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ROBIN HOLLOW 


BOOKS BY 

EDNA A* BROWN 


FICTION 


THAT AFFAIR AT ST. PETER’S 
JOURNEY’S END 


FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 


FOUR GORDONS 
UNCLE DAVID’S BOYS 
WHEN MAX CAME 
ARNOLD’S LITTLE BROTHER 
ARCHER AND THE “PROPHET” 
THE SPANISH CHEST 
AT THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE 
RAINBOW ISLAND 
ROBIN HOLLOW 


FOR YOUNGER READERS 


THE SILVER BEAR 
THE CHINESE KITTEN 
WHISTLING ROCK 


LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO*, BOSTON 











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“1 TAKE BACK ALL I EVER SAID OR THOUGHT ABOUT UNCLE 

Alexander’s taste in dishes. 85. 























ROBIN HOLLOW 


By 

EDNA Af BROWN 


ILLUSTRATED BY 

JOHN GOSS 



» 

> » 


BOSTON 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 















Copyright, 1924 , 

By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 


All Rights Reserved 


Robin Hollow 




Printed in U. S. A. 


■fflorwooC) presa 

BERWICK & SMITH CO. 
Norwood, Mass. 


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©C1AS08129 







Dedicated to Elma 

‘Wisdom has disciples 
Keen to hear her speak: 

Faith and Love go always 
Cheek by tender cheek. 

‘Pleasure by her band of slaves 
Everywhere is known, 

High on the mountain 
Beauty walks alone.” 

Ellen Glines. 






J 



CONTENTS 


I. 

One Way Out . . 

• 

11 

11. 

Aunt Euth .... 

• 

21 

III. 

Eobin Hollow .... 

• 

35 

IV. 

Sally’s Housekeeping 

• 

67 

V. 

Concerning China . 

• 

70 

VI. 

Elsie Comes to Call 

• 

86 

VII. 

Soap and Sunshine . 

• 

100 

VIII. 

On the Mountain 

• 

116 

IX. 

Old Love Letters . 

• 

137 

X. 

Uncle Alexander’s Xote-book 

• 

161 

XI. 

Sandy Sees a Selectman 

• 

166 

XII. 

A Visitor at Eobin Hollow . 

• 

177 

XIII. 

The Blue Saucer 

• 

192 

XIV. 

Sally’s Party .... 

• 

206 

XV. 

The Still Eiver Library 

• 

219 

XVI. 

A Box FROM Boston 

• 

232 

XVII. 

Books and Modern Magic 

• 

246 

XVIII. 

Before the Holidays 

• 

257 

XIX. 

Christmas at Eobin Hollow . 

• 

271 

XX. 

Sandy’s Bad Luck . 

• 

288 

XXI. 

Eikki-Tikki’s Stones 

• 

303 

XXII. 

Sally Goes Sliding 

• 

319 

XXIII. 

Mind Cure and Measles 

• 

339 

XXIV. 

On the Eed Trail . 

• 

356 

XXV. 

Sail in Sight ! . 

7 

• 

376 




nA 


^ I 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


^^I take back all I ever said or 
thought about Uncle Alexander’s 
taste in dishes.” (Page 83) - Frontispiece 

Facing Page 

Yes, Ab Scudder. You’re seein’ straight. 

It’s me ”.140 

Glancing behind her, Sally saw her aunt 
quietly standing in the doorway - - 202 

Mounting a chair, Sally began with the top 
shelf.228 

The old drawer stuck, but finally came out 310 

I 

They took turns with hatchet and brush - 366 


9 



ROBIN HOLLOW 


CHAPTER I 

ONE WAY OUT 

And of course,” ended Alexander, the most 
important factor on my side is my sister Sally.” 

Sarah Allison didn’t feel particularly im¬ 
portant nor brave nor like anything but a rather 
scared and depressed girl of sixteen as she sat 
in the bay window of Sandy’s room, looking into 
twilight Boston. Her older brother was all she 
had in the world, and even his cheerful way of 
reporting a medical verdict could not make a 
case of incipient tuberculosis seem exactly de¬ 
sirable. 

But there’s no doubt you will get well? ” 
she asked for the second time. 

“ Everything is in my favor. Both doctors say 
I have taken it in time and if I just stop work¬ 
ing all hours of the day and night as I have done 

these past years, stay out of doors and eat every- 

11 


12 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


thing in sight, I’ll be as fit as a fiddle in a year 
and perhaps sooner. There’s not one reason to 
look sober, Sally girl.” 

^^And your being gassed in the war doesn’t 
make things worse?” 

That’s probably why I am in trouble now, 
but it won’t make it harder to get well. No, so 
far as I can see, the only thing before us is to 
decide what we shall do.” 

I wish I hadn’t spent the summer with Aunt 
Ruth,” said Sally regretfully. Pig that I am! 
I left you here in this old boarding-house all by 
yourself and had the best kind of time alone. 
If I’d been with you, I’d have seen how tired and 
white you were looking.” 

“ Oh, anybody who stays in the city through 
the hot weather gets fagged,” Sandy evaded 
easily. But it was being with you at the beach 
for these two weeks that showed me how let¬ 
down I was. The idea! Would I let you stay 
moping here all your vacation? ” 

I did have a good time, and I love Aunt 
Ruth,” said Sally, but I shall never understand 
why she married Uncle Caleb.” 

Because she loved him. Any woman who 
undertakes a man named Caleb must love 


ONE WAY OUT 


13 


strongly. That name is enough to curdle the 
disposition' of the sweetest baby. But am I to 
infer that having been Uncle Caleb’s guest for 
the summer, you don’t care for a winter in his 
company? ” 

Oh, Sandy! ” cried Sally in sudden alarm, 
“you don’t mean I can’t be with you? I must 
be, Sandy; I just couldn’t stand it if I wasn’t. 
Let’s go somewhere together where you can rest 
and get well—I suppose Boston isn’t the place.” 

Alexander dropped his gay manner and spoke 
more soberly. “A fellow with a lung can get 
well anywhere, wherever his home is. The trou¬ 
ble is we haven’t precisely what can be called a 
home. I don’t believe I could stay here. Kind 
as Mrs. Stokes always is to us, she must con¬ 
sider her other boarders. They would object, 
and with reason, to my being here when they 
knew I was due for a rest cure. That is going 
to be the stumbling-block anywhere we might go. 
The really sensible thing is for you to stay with 
Aunt Kuth and for me to hike off to a sanitarium. 
But I hate to think of your having to winter 
Uncle Caleb.” 

“ He would let me be there,” said Sally, chok¬ 
ing, “ but he wouldn’t like having me,’^ 


14 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally, he does like you,” replied her brother 
earnestly; “ that is, so far as he ever lets his 
liking capacity get into action. I’m the person 
he has no use for, and for two reasons. He dis¬ 
approves because I took you away from them 
when I came back from France. He felt he had 
done a highly creditable thing in giving you a 
home, when Mother died, and I was across and 
could not look after you myself. And it was 
kind; we must acknowledge that. It was very 
kind of him.” 

. It would have been kinder if he had helped 
Mother when things were so hard for her, and 
not have been so disapproving,” sobbed Sally. 
She was really crying now. You don’t know 
how hard he disapproved.” 

Well, from his point of view, he thought she 
had been unwise and that I was crazy, when I 
turned up, both to take you away and to refuse 
the business offer he made me. But since I was 
of age, he couldn’t interfere with me. We have 
been fairly happy these years, haven’t we? ” 
Sally made no reply, for the simple reason that 
she couldn’t. But, being a thoughtful young 
person, she soon realized that she must control 
herself for Sandy’s sake. 


ONE WAY OUT 


15 


I can stand Uncle Caleb if I have to” she 
said bravely, but I’d rather go to boarding- 
school.” 

I thought of that,” replied her brother, and 
I’m not sure the exchequer will stand the strain. 
But I’d rather attempt the strain than have you 
unhappy.” 

Let’s hire a little cottage,” suggested Sally, 

somewhere in a place that’s quiet and good for 
you, and try to keep house. I can cook,—some,” 
—she added honestly, ^^and it would be better 
for you and we’d have such fun together, 
Sandy.” 

“ It costs something to buy furniture these 
days, but we might figure on that proposition. 
By George! ” he ended suddenly. 

Sally looked at him expectantly. 

Of course! ” Sandy went on, thinking aloud. 

There’s Uncle Alexander. I had forgotten all 
about him. Why, he’s the very boy to help us 
out of this fix.” 

His sister looked positively frightened. Had 
Sandy forgotten that Uncle Alexander had been 
dead for eight years? Could he be out of his 
mind? 

Oh, no, I’m not,” said her brother, answering 


16 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


her thought. I know he is dead, but all the 
same he’ll save the situation for us. You re¬ 
member he lived for years all by himself in a 
little Yermont village somewhere near Kutland. 
There’s a house of sorts, I know, but if you will 
believe me, for the time being, I had entirely for¬ 
gotten that he left that house and its contents to 
his namesake great-nephew! ” 

“ Sandy, you couldn’t have forgotten! ” said 
Sally indignantly. I knew that—Mother told 
me. We thought it would be nice to go there 
some summer. I knew he gave it to you, but I 
thought you sold it.” 

“ I sold an outlying wood-lot, but I couldn’t 
sell the house because Uncle Alexander forbade 
it in his will. There is a condition, that I was 
not to sell it until after I had spent twelve 
months in it, not necessarily at one stretch, but 
a year in all. I suppose he thought if I, or any 
of us, ever went there for that length of time, 
five or six summers, we’d never want to dispose 
of it. I think it is a story-and-a-half cottage, but 
with a view and-a-half attached. I paid the taxes 
every year when they sent me the bill, and then 
forgot all about it till the next bill came.” 

It would be the very place for you,” said 


ONE WAY OUT 17 

Sally entliusiastically. High, and probably 
dry.^’ 

And cold—brrr! ’’ said Sandy. But the 
nice kind of cold that goes Vay below zero and 
isn^t half so shivery as fourteen above in Bos¬ 
ton.’^ 

We could have a cow,” mused Sally. 

Would you milk her? Do you Imow how? ” 

No, on the whole, we will buy milk,” de¬ 
cided Sally. I don’t like cows very well. We 
will have a kitten and perhaps a dog.” 

Alexander drew a breath of relief. He had 
dreaded this necessary talk with Sally and had 
planned carefully just how to put things. Her 
tears in the middle were hard to bear, prepared 
for them though he was, for Sally didn’t cry 
easily. 

Sally,” he said gently, ^^how about school? 
Your college preparation is important. I don’t 
know that we ought to plan anything that cuts 
that out for you.” 

Alexander Allison,” said Sally, flaring up as 
she did sometimes. The one person who mat¬ 
ters just now is you, yourself! I am not to be 
thought of! There will be some sort of school 
in that village or somebody for a tutor, and if 


18 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


there isn’t, I’ll work by myself and yon can teach 
me to add a column of figures correctly,—if you 
can! ” she ended triumphantly. Oh, Sandy, 
what does it matter if I don’t have a very good 
school just for one winter, so long as you get 
well and we are together? ” 

All right; we’ll try it,” agreed Alexander 
without arguing the point. “And we’ll go as 
soon as we can, so as to take advantage of the 
weather. September ought to be stunning in the 
Green Mountains. I have talked with the Chief 
and he says there will be a place for me on the 
paper whenever I’m well enough to take it. 
That’s a big load off my mind. There’s money 
enough for us to be comfortable for a year with¬ 
out worrying, if we live simply, and we won’t be 
beholden to Uncle Caleb for a cent. I am to write 
articles for the paper whenever I feel like it. If 
we go to Vermont there ought to be some special 
things to feature, like winter in the mountains 
and perhaps village sports. The Chief has prom¬ 
ised me books to review, and I’ll have a great 
old time scribbling as much as I like, with no 
one to disturb me.” 

How big is the village? ” Sally demanded 
suddenly. “ What is its name? ” 


ONE WAY OUT 19 

Its name is Still Kiver, but that is every last 
thing I know about it.’’ 

Sally was reaching for her hat. Let me take 
a pencil,” she commanded. I’m going to run 
over to the Public Library and see what is to be 
found about that place.” 

She was gone almost before she finished speak¬ 
ing. Alexander leaned back with a sigh. The 
worst was certainly over, so far as Sally was 
concerned. And he was so confoundedly tired 
and fagged that it would be a blessed relief just 
to stop. The doctors had only confirmed what 
he himself suspected, and fortunately there 
wasn’t any reservation that he must keep from 
his sharp-eyed little sister. He could tell her 
the whole truth, which was not so bad as he 
feared. It had required more sheer courage to 
consult first their family physician and then the 
specialist, than it had taken to lead his company 
into action at Belleau Wood. 

Personally, he was sick of boarding and the 
idea of a sanitarium appealed to him still less. 
Of course, they did not know how much of a 
house this was in Still River, but they could 
look at it and if it proved impossible, other ar¬ 
rangements could be made. Sally really did 


20 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


know something about cooking; she had taken 
a school course in domestic science. If worst 
came to worst, he could lend a hand himself. 
Sally would love having a house to fuss over, 
and it would be bliss to spread out a little after 
living in two rooms so long, and not always be 
rubbing elbows with strangers. The more Sandy 
thought of the plan, the more strongly it ap¬ 
pealed to him. 

Sally was not long absent. Within twenty 
minutes she came hurrying up-stairs. 

^^Not much to be learned,” she announced at 
once. “ Here is all I found. ^ Still Kiver, a post¬ 
village of Eutland County, Vermont. Farming 
community, Baptist and Unitarian churches, 
population last census, 560.’ ” 

Still River little dreams,” said Alexander 
solemnly, ^^that its population is shortly to be¬ 
come 562! ” 


CHAPTER II 


AUNT RUTH 

Had Sandy and Sally followed their own de¬ 
sires they would have folded their tents and 
rivaled the Arabs in speed and silence of depar¬ 
ture. But common decency prevented flight 
with no warning to their great-aunt and uncle. 

Of course Uncle Caleb Hopkins disapproved of 
their plan. From the bottom of his boots Uncle 
Caleb disapproved, and though he said very 
little, a dark atmosphere enclouded him. Yet, 
to do him justice. Uncle Caleb was genuinely 
distressed and disturbed. What seemed antago¬ 
nism to Sandy and Sally came from no real dis¬ 
like but from genuine inability to understand 
or sympathize with youth. Uncle Caleb had 
dearly wished children of his own, and during 
the long years in which none blessed his home, 
he built up for himself the ideal of a son, and 
needless to say, young Alexander Allison was 
not in the least like the boy of this dream. 

In his own odd way. Uncle Caleb was intensely 

21 


22 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


patriotic. Sandy’s war record and the proba¬ 
bility that the illness now threatening was due 
to service rendered his country, aroused his deep¬ 
est feelings. But this crazy project of two chil¬ 
dren, for so he classed them in spite of Sandy’s 
twenty-six years, was to be countenanced by none 
of his approval. He would register gloom to the 
end of the chapter. Oh, there was no doubt that 
Uncle Caleb would recognize a chance to say I 
told you so! ” 

Sandy and Sally broke the news in the course 
of a dutiful Sunday afternoon call, and they 
were not through breakfast on Monday before 
Aunt Euth presented herself at the door of Mrs. 
Stokes’s hospitable boarding-house. On her way 
from the basement dining-room, Sally popped 
into the parlor to find her waiting. 

‘‘Auntie, you must have left Malden before 
sunrise,” she exclaimed, coming to welcome her 
with a kiss. 

“ I did start rather early,” agreed Aunt Ruth, 
her gentle face lighting with the smile it always 
had for Sally. “ Has Sandy gone? ” 

“ He isn’t going to the office again. We were 
planning to shop this morning. Sandy says I 
must buy some winter underwear.” 


AUNT RUTH 


23 


You must both have it/^ said Aunt Ruth de¬ 
cidedly. Oh, I know you haven’t worn it 
lately—no girl does—but Vermont is a very dif¬ 
ferent place. Sally, I came to say-” 

She broke off as Sandy looked in. 

Let’s come up-stairs. Auntie,” he suggested. 

Skip ahead, Sally.” 

Sally flew up two steps at a time, devoutly 
hoping that Tillie had made her bed. She hadn’t, 
but the rest of the room was in order, and by the 
time Aunt Ruth and Sandy reached the landing, 
Sally had whisked the covers into place with a 
celerity which concealed many wrinkles. 

Mrs. Hopkins took the rocker Sandy offered. 
She kept fidgeting with the cords of her bag in an 
agitation quite unlike placid Aunt Ruth. 

Sandy,” she began, your Uncle Caleb 
doesn’t think this plan of going to Still River 
very wise.” 

I know he doesn’t approve,” her nephew 
agreed, with the ghost of a smile. 

It isn’t necessary,” Mrs. Hopkins went on, 
and then stopped. 

Oh, I know you would be glad to have Sally 
with you. Auntie, and it’s good of you. I ap¬ 
preciate it. But somehow, I want her myself.” 



24 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


And no wonder/’ agreed Mrs. Hopldns in a 
more natural tone. But, Sandy, why don’t you 
and Sally both come to us this winter? She 
could go to school and I could look after you. 
I’d like to have you so much.” 

You are a dear, Aunt Kuth,” said Sandy 
warmly. I know you would like to have us 
both but I’m afraid Uncle Caleb wouldn’t.” 

A pretty pink flush came into Mrs. Hopkins’ 
faded and lined cheeks. Caleb himself sug¬ 
gested it,” she announced. 

Sandy frankly stared. Sally’s jaw fairly 
dropped. 

Yes,” Mrs.. Hopkins went on, Caleb doesn’t 
think it wise for you and Sally to go off up 
country that way. You are both too young and 
you really don’t know what you may meet. 
Caleb said I was to tell you, Sandy, that you 
were welcome, both you and Sally.” 

That’s awfully good of you, Auntie, and of 
Uncle Caleb, too. I appreciate it, more than I 
can say. But Sally and I have our minds made 
up to try that old house up in Vermont. I hate 
to seem contrary.” 

Oh, well, Sandy, that’s nothing new,” said 
Aunt Ruth unexpectedly. There is just one 


AUNT RUTH 


25 


reason why I am not going to urge you to give 
up your plan and that is because I honestly 
think, since your lungs aren’t strong, the air 
would be better for you in the mountains than 
in Malden. We get a good deal of wind from 
the sea, you know.” 

I do know,” said Sandy thoughtfully. Dr. 
Benton says the high altitude should be benefi¬ 
cial. I don’t want you and Uncle Caleb to think 
I don’t appreciate your kindness. Would you 
feel any easier if Sally and I try our way, say, 
till Christmas? By then, we shall know whether 
we can swing it, and I shall know how I am 
feeling. If I’m not on the up road, or Sally is 
lonely or homesick-” 

Not with you,” interrupted his sister. 

Then we’ll accept your offer and do it 
gratefully,” concluded Alexander. Does that 
seem fair. Auntie?” 

‘ For a moment Mrs. Hopkins considered. 

Yes,” she said at length. Yes, I shall feel 
satisfied with that promise. I know it looks like 
fun to go off together to that little house in the 
mountains, but it isn’t going to be altogether a 
pleasure excursion. Caleb will feel more com¬ 
fortable, too. Then you will promise, Sandy, to 



26 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


come to us after Christmas, unless you are really 
gaining and unless both you and Sally are happy 
in Still Eiver? 

promise, Auntie, ^cross my heart,’” said 
Sandy boyishly. Please thank Uncle Caleb, 
too.” 

Mrs. Hopkins drew a sigh. And now, Sally, 
what can I do to help?” she asked. I came 
early on purpose, and I am ready to pack, or 
shop, or sew, or do whatever you need done.” 

Auntie, you can’t guess what a jolly thing 
happened last evening,” burst out Sally, without 
answering her question. One of Sandy’s 
friends telephoned that he knew of a little Ford 
car, one of those yellow suburban models, you 
know, that the owner wanted to sell right away, 
so he would let it go cheap. Sandy’s going to 
look at it, and if it is in good shape, he’ll buy it 
and we’ll drive up to Vermont and take all our 
stuff with us.” 

That is a sensible plan,” said her aunt. 

While driving in this morning, I was thinking 
that you would need some way of getting about 
if you went to the country. Why don’t you go 
now and look at the car, Sandy, and let me go 
shopping with Sally? I should like to see those 


AUNT RUTH 27 

warm undergarments actually bought. Where 
is this Ford? 

Out in Dorchester, Auntie.^’ 

George brought me in town with the coupe. 
Suppose you tell him to take you to Dorchester, 
and Sally and I will walk down to the stores. 
We shall probably lunch in that region, and you 
might as well use George and the car all the 
morning for other errands. When you are 
through, tell him to go home and to meet me at 
the 3.14 train.’’ 

Mrs. Hopkins offered this plan in the most 
matter-of-fact tone, but was visibly relieved when 
her nephew accepted it with only a moment’s 
hesitation. Sally put on her hat, took her purse 
and the two started. 

I’m so glad Sandy’s gone off in your car,” 
Sally began, tucking a confiding arm through 
her aunt’s. He gets tired so easily. Auntie.” 

I’m thankful he was willing to take it, and 
I thought, too, he would like George’s opinion 
on that Ford. George is a good mechanic and 
would know whether it was worth what is asked. 
But most of all, I wanted a chance to talk to 
you, Sally dear.” 

It’s very early,” said Sally. The stores 


28 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


are hardly open yet. Let’s walk slowly and when 
we get to the Public Gardens, we can sit down 
if we like. What did you want to say to me? ” 
Oh, so much! ” sighed Mrs. Hopkins. Oh, 
Sally, I believe the loveliest part of being young 
is that you can undertake things without fear 
of consequences. When you are older, it takes 
such courage to make a new start.” 

But you don’t feel afraid to have us go, do 
you, now that Sandy promises to give it up at 
Christmas if he isn’t getting on? ” 

“ I feel much better about the whole thing. 
That is a great relief to me. I don’t want to dis¬ 
courage you one particle, but I do want to tell 
you that it isn’t going to be all fun, and that you 
must be prepared to find things harder than you 
expect.” 

^^Why, I know it won’t be like your cottage 
at the beach,” said Sally. There won’t be any 
electric lights, and probably we shall have to use 
kerosene even to cook with, and Sandy says the 
only water in the house will be the kitchen pump 
—we are counting on a pump—^but somehow I 
don’t think I’ll mind, Auntie.” 

It isn’t exactly that, Sally. From what I 
know of you, I think you will make the best of 


AUNT RUTH 


29 


all such inconveniences,—perhaps not mind them 
nearly so much as I should. But this is what I 
mean. You must be prepared to take the brunt 
of everything. All your life Sandy has petted 
and shielded you. Now it is your turn to stand, 
not only by yourself, but to take from his shoul¬ 
ders everything you can. And it isn’t only the 
planning and contriving; you must manage so 
that Sandy doesn’t do any physical hard work. 
He ought not to lift heavy things, nor chop wood, 
nor handle trunks, nor anything of the kind.” 

Auntie, he knows that,” said Sally comfort¬ 
ingly. We are going to hire somebody to help 
with the hard part.” 

It isn’t always easy to get help in the coun¬ 
try, Sally dear. Sometimes it is possible, but 
again, you may be dependent upon busy neigh¬ 
bors. We will hope that there may be some per¬ 
son to do all the odd jobs there always are in 
getting settled.” 

I’m very strong,” said Sally. “ I didn’t play 
tennis and swim all summer without developing 
my biceps. I can chop the wood and ^ smash 
the baggage,’ too, if I have to! ” 

Mrs. Hopkins smiled at the confidence in the 
gay young voice. I know you’ll do your best, 


30 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


dear, but it won’t be any joke trying to keep a 
Vermont farmhouse warm with only wood to 
burn, for I doubt if you can get coal. I think 
you and Sandy will have enjoyable times, and I 
don’t doubt he will be sensible, because he is 
mature for his age and he knows how much de¬ 
pends upon his taking care of himself. It will 
be a great change for you, Sally. You have been 
used to all the pleasant times that come to an 
attractive young girl. Can you let all that go 
without regret? ” 

For Sandy, I can,” Sally replied simply. 

Mrs. Hopkins patted her hand. Then that 
will not matter. But there is one thing you must 
not economize on, and that is food. You must see 
that Sandy has good, nourishing food, especially 
cream and milk and eggs. Pay anything neces¬ 
sary, but get them. And, Sally, I want you to 
promise that you will let me know, without say¬ 
ing one word to Sandy, if things are hard 
financially. I would love to help you, and you 
know I have my own income that I can spend as 
I like. Not that Caleb wouldn’t want to help, 
if it were needed, only he thinks it isn’t good 
for young people to have too much done for them 
nor things made too easy. But I know that a 


AUNT RUTH 


31 


few dollars here and there don^t spoil anybody 
and can make life ever so much more comfort¬ 
able. You will promise, won’t you? ” 

Mrs. Hopkins stopped short on the bridge over 
the pond. She and Sally were both watching an 
approaching swan. 

“ I will promise, Auntie, but truly, I don’t 
believe I shall need to ask you. Sandy said if 
we lived simply, there was enough to take us 
through a year without worrying.” 

Yes, dear, but what he thinks is simple liv¬ 
ing may not mean the food he should have. You 
will remember that, and insist on the eggs and 
milk, no matter what the cost? ” 

Auntie, I will, and thank you a thousand 
times. And whenever anything seems hard, I’ll 
tell myself to take a brace and see it through. 
I’ll write, oh, ever so often! And you’ll get 
Carrie to copy some of her nice receipts, those 
dandy cookies and cinnamon buns and custards 
and such things.” 

You shall have the receipts, child,” said Mrs. 
Hopkins. “ And another thing, Sally. You are 
going to the real country, among a kind of peo¬ 
ple you’ve never known. They will be different, 
but remember they are your neighbors and be a 


32 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


neighbor yourself. I know your Uncle Alex¬ 
ander thought a great deal of the Still Kiver 
people. He always said he would rather live in 
Kobin Hollow than in Boston.’’ 

Sally stopped short. ^Hive where?’’ she 
asked. 

In the cottage—Kobin Hollow—he always 
called it.” 

In spite of her sixteen years, almost seventeen, 
Sally executed a pirouette right on Boston 
Common. 

What a dear name! It makes me perfectly 
crazy to get there. Oh, I can fairly see how it 
looks! Big fat robins pulling up earthworms! 
Auntie, do tell me about Uncle Alexander. I 
don’t remember him and Sandy doesn’t seem to 
know much about him.” 

Why, he wasn’t quite like other people,” re¬ 
plied Mrs. Hopkins, looking anxiously about to 
see whether any acquaintance had witnessed 
Sally’s impulsive caper. She caught one smile, 
wholly sympathetic, from a middle-aged man, but 
apparently nobody else noticed. He went to 
Harvard and then into business with Caleb, and 
was successful. Then, all of a sudden, he gave 
it up. He told Caleb he couldn’t stand business 


AUNT RUTH 


33 


competition and keep his hands clean and his 

conscience clear. He traveled around Vermont 

and New Hampshire till he found just the place 

he liked. He bought it, named it Robin Hollow 

\ 

and lived there till he died. He was very fond 
of your mother and pleased that she named 
Sandy for him. I imagine that is why he left 
the cottage as he did. I don^t think he had much 
other property, for Caleb said he gave away all 
money he considered tainted. And Caleb says it 
is just as well that Sandy should work off some 
of that time he is to spend there, so he can sell 
the place if he wants to.’’ 

Auntie,” begged Sally, as they reached the 
edge of the Common and stood waiting for an 
opportunity to cross Tremont Street, won’t you 
and Uncle Caleb, sometime this fall, drive up and 
see us? I think it would be just lovely.” 

“ I have already planned to do so,” said Mrs. 
Hopkins quietly. I can’t say whether your 
uncle will get away to come with me, but I shall 
come, Sally. You may rest assured of that. 
There, we can cross now. We will go first to 
Filene’s and see about that underwear and then 
attend to whatever else you wish.” 

But Robin Hollow,” mused Sally. Uncle 


34 ROBIN HOLLOW 

Alexander must have been nice to give bis: bouse 
that name.’^ 

^^As a young man be was one of tbe most 
lovable persons I ever knew. He was generous 
and bigb-minded and one of tbe kindest people 
on eartb. He loved books and trees and flowers 
and I don’t believe be ever passed a cat or a dog 
or any animal without speaking to it.” 

Then Robin Hollow will be as nice as its 
name,” said Sally contentedly. I think bouses 
and even rooms grow like tbe people who live 
in them. Uncle Alexander must have left a 
happy feeling behind him. I wonder why be 
never married. It sounds as though be ought to 
have bad a family.” 

I believe, when be was young, be cared a 
great deal for a certain girl, but she married 
some one else.” 

‘^Wbat a pity! What was her name? Ob, 
Auntie, see that peachy bat! ” 

Sally dragged Mrs. Hopkins across tbe side¬ 
walk for a nearer view of tbe milliner’s window. 
She did not notice that her question remained 
unanswered nor see tbe rosy color it brought to 
her aunt’s elderly face. 


CHAPTER III 


ROBIN HOLLOW 

Long since, when the mountain ranges of New 
England were in the making, some kindly nature 
spirit, wandering over their summits, must have 
sought a place to rest and, in a weary moment, 
have scooped for himself a pleasant seat from 
the side of one green slope. For it looks ex¬ 
actly as though the green depression in which 
an early settler built a little gray cottage had 
been purposely made, as a child digs a seat in the 
loose beach sand. 

The depression faces south, and all day sun¬ 
shine fills its cup. In winter, long after the 
village of quiet Still River is enfolded by shadow, 
lingering rays caress Robin Hollow. Sunrise, 
sunset, and stars can be seen from the cottage. 
The tall maples standing sentry on either side 
seem to gaze upon it proudly. Spruce-trees shel¬ 
ter it from the north winds as they march a 

steep ascent to the top of Round Knob. Before 

35 


36 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


it the valley dips to the village and across that 
valley rise the lovely slopes of the green hills, 
less majestic than their white brothers, but more 
friendly and domestic and seeming to accept 
more kindly the settlements nestling, into their 
folds. 

To Robin Hollow come the first hepaticas and 
the first bloodroot of the spring. There arbutus 
puts forth rosy petals long before the snow has 
gone from the deep woods. There the robins 
come early and have been known to linger until 
Thanksgiving. There a man who found city life 
too complicated to endure with honor, sought 
companionship in books and fiowers and little 
brothers of the wood and air. So dearly did he 
love the place that after death, his gentle pres¬ 
ence still seemed to linger, so graciously fell the 
sunshine and so tenderly did passing years treat 
the place. 

One crisp September morning, the postmaster 
of Still River stood on the step of the combined 
store and post-office, watching an overburdened 
truck laboring up the hill. So intent was he 
upon its difficult progress that he did not notice a 
car coming from the opposite direction until it 
drew up beside him. 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


37 


The car was a Ford suburban, heavily loaded 
with trunks, a barrel, suit-cases, and numerous 
packages. Its passengers were a girl, with dark 
eyes and dark curly hair, who was driving, and 
a young man of lighter complexion and coloring, 
with singularly direct and pleasant blue eyes. 

Still River lay off the State road and tourists 
did not often pass through its sleepy street, but 
the postmaster at one glance labeled the two as 
city folks.’’ 

Good-morning,” said the young man. ‘‘ I see 
this is the post-ofhce. May I ask if you are the 
postmaster? ” 

No objection at all to askin’,” came the reply, 
with a twinkle in an eye, which belied any dis¬ 
courtesy of speech. 

Sandy laughed. Are you the postmaster?” 
he amended his question. 

Goin’ on thirty-five years.” 

Well, if you’ve been here that long, you must 
have known a man by the name of Hopkins, Alex¬ 
ander Hopkins, who lived near Still River in a 
house called Robin Hollow.” 

I knew him,” assented the postmaster, look¬ 
ing searchingly at Sandy. ^^Yes, I knew him 
well.” 


38 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


He was my great-uncle/’ explained Sandy; 
oursy I should say, for this is my sister. My 
name is Alexander Allison.” 

Pleased to meet you,” said the postmaster, 
extending a work-hardened palm. You’ve got a 
look of him about the eyes.” 

My sister and I are going to camp in the 
cottage for a while. Uncle Alexander left it to 
me, by the way. But we have never been there 
and we don’t know just where it is.” 

‘‘ ’Bout three-quarters of a mile further on. 
Go part way up this hill, past one farm, Erics¬ 
son’s, and take the fust turn to the left, down a 
narrow lane. You’ll come right on Kobin Hol¬ 
low. You can’t miss it, for it’s the only house 
and it’s tucked into the hillside like a baby into 
its bed. Isn’t it sort of late in the season to be 
campin’? ” 

Alexander hesitated a second. He knew that 
he and Sally were providing a subject for con¬ 
versation in all Still River that day. To state 
openly their plans might be wise. 

Well, the fact is, Mr.-” he began. 

Name’s Moffatt, Joshua Moffatt.” 

Thank you. You see it’s this way, Mr. Mof- 
fatt. I’ve been working on a Boston newspaper 



ROBIN HOLLOW 


39 


and got run down, sort of cashed in, you know, 
and the doctor says I must lay off and loaf for 
a while and I’d better do it in the country. So 
we thought, Sally and I, that it was a good 
chance to look up Uncle Alexander’s place. We 
mean to stick around here till Christmas and 
perhaps all winter.” 

You’ve come to a good spot,” said Mr. Mof- 
fatt approvingly, taking note of Sandy’s well-set 
shoulders. Didn’t happen to be across in the 
war, did you? ” 

Yes, for sixteen months.” 

Didn’t Imow my boy? Private John Moffatt, 
26th division, 51st regiment? ” 

Sorry, but I didn’t. Mine was the lOlst.” 

Johnny didn’t come back,” said Mr. Moffatt 
simply. 

Oh, I’m sorry! ” said Sally impulsively, her 
eyes filling. 

Those tears made a complete conquest of Mr. 
Moffatt. He shrugged his shoulders slightly. 

Alexander Hopkins was a fine man, none bet¬ 
ter,” he said briefly. He was a good friend to 
me. Anything I can do to help,—^why, ask it. 
That reminds me. I’ve got the keys to his place 
here.” 


40 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


“ Thank you indeed, Mr. Moffatt. We shall 
take you at your word, for we shall want advice 
about no end of things. To begin with, is there 
any man or big boy we could hire to help us get 
settled? Handle this stuff here, you know? I 
look husky, but Vin under strict orders not to 
lift things nor do any heavy work. Somebody to 
do the unloading and bring in wood and so forth? 
By the way, do you suppose there is any wood 
at Robin Hollow? ’’ 

Guess there’s some in the shed to begin with, 
but not near enough to see you through the cold 
weather. Stoves take a sight of wood and a sight 
of tendin’. I’ll be thinkin’ about fuel for you. 
Let me see, I dunno but I can spare Jem long 
enough to help you get that truck unloaded. 
He’s my other boy. I was goin’ to set him to 
pickin’ apples, but they won’t take no hurt for 
an hour or so. Here, you, Jem! ” 

In reply to the shout a grunt came from the 
interior of the building and a boy of seventeen 
came to the door. 

His father made a brief explanation. “ Guess 
you’d better run out the car so as not to lose 
time. Stop at Ericsson’s and get Thor to go 
along up with you. See if Thor can help as 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


41 


long as they want him to. If he can't, you stay, 
but if he can, you get back and tackle them 
apples." 

Jem gave the two in the Ford a friendly glance. 

I'll be right up," he said, turning toward the 
barn in the rear. 

We have fallen on our feet to begin with," 
said Sandy as they took leave of the friendly 
postmaster. Lucky for us that Uncle Alex¬ 
ander seems to have been fairly popular around 
these regions. If they had hated him, they 
wouldn't be so ready to help us out. Step on 
the gas, Sally; we want to be there when Jem 
and Thor arrive." 

Sally stepped " and drove with commendable 
dexterity till they reached the turn specified and 
in a few moments came full on Robin Hollow. 
Then she almost ditched the car and did stall the 
engine in her delight. 

I knew it would be dear!" she announced 
when they finally came to a safe stop, ^^but I 
didn't suppose it would be so sweet! I love it 
already, don't you? See the way the trees cuddle 
around. There is a robin—two of them! Oh, 
I'm so glad we came! Why, it is holding out its 
hands to us! " 


42 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


There was something unmistakably friendly 
and appealing in the aspect of the low gray 
house, an almost human quality which sensitive 
Sally instantly felt. 

It’s glad to see us! ” she exclaimed. Oh, 
Robin Hollow, we’ve really come, and I love 
every bit of you. Look! there’s been a garden 
and it isn’t all gone yet. See the asters on each 
side of the door.” 

In her enthusiasm over the cottage, Sally had 
her back to the view it faced, and when she did 
turn, was surprised into silence. In the clear 
autumn sunshine one could see miles over rolling 
ridges of mountains already beginning to flame 
into glory with the touch of frost. 

I guess Uncle Alexander had some sense 
when he wanted us to live here twelve months 
before we sold it,” was Sandy’s brief comment. 

Let’s get the house open before the boys come.” 

Sally was fairly shivering with excitement as 
he turned the key in the rusty lock. 

From a low flat stone the door opened upon a 
tiny entry from which went up an incredibly 
steep stairway. At the right lay the kitchen. 

There is a pump! ” shrieked Sally, rushing 
across to embrace it. A sink, a stove, a table, 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


43 


three chairs,—I suppose there are dishes in this 
closet! Kerens a pantry. This door opens into 
a shed. Two south windows! That means sun¬ 
shine all day long.^’ 

Sandy tried the pump and shook his head, for 
no water came. His sister had darted across the 
entry. 

Oh, I didn’t suppose it would be so pretty! 
she exclaimed. 

A partition had been removed to make one long 
low room with two west and two south windows. 
Heavy beams crossing its ceiling instantly at¬ 
tracted Sandy’s attention, for some skilful hand 
had carved upon the ends of each, squirrels in 
high relief, varying in posture, but studied from 
life. 

Sally saw that the floor was painted a warm 
gray, and so were the plastered walls, while the 
space between the ceiling beams was stained a 
dull blue. The room contained an old-fashioned 
desk of cherry-wood, a handsome grandfather 
clock, several comfortable chairs and, in one 
corner, a small spinning-wheel. Well-filled book¬ 
cases stretched along two walls. Upon the hearth 
stood a large stove, but it was evident that in 
mild weather this could be banished in favor of 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


44 

an open fire. A long roll, carefully wrapped, 
suggested a large rug. 

Sally pulled off the cover and partially un¬ 
rolled the rug, distracting Sandy^s attention from 
the carved beams. 

Why, this is a real oriental rug! ” he ex¬ 
claimed in utter astonishment. Somebody had 
sense enough to protect it from mice and moths. 
And the books—hooray for Uncle Alexander! 

With the instinct of a born book-lover he im¬ 
mediately investigated the cases. 

Dickens and Thackeray and Emerson, and 
Kipling and Hardy,he announced. For these 
and much more—many thanks, dear uncle! 

Sandy! ” shrieked his sister, who had opened 
a door at the back of the room. Look! Can 
you believe it? A sleeping-porch! Why, the 
place is made for you! ” 

Book in hand, Sandy followed. The door 
opened into a tiny room containing a chair, a 
table and a chest of drawers. A casement gave 
access to a little porch with glassed windows 
west and south, already provided with a four- 
posted bed of cherry-wood. 

I canT believe my eyes,’^ said Sally again. 

Isn’t this too good to be true? ” 



ROBIN HOLLOW 


45 


It does seem incredible good luck/’ said her 
brother rather soberly. Poor Uncle Alexander! 
He loved this place, and nobody has been near it 
for eight years. It makes me feel as though I 
had neglected him as well as it.” 

We will make up for it now,” said Sally. 

Doesn’t it seem friendly and welcoming? I 
think some of his love for it is still here and 
that’s why we can’t help loving it back.” 

It’s a bit of all-right,” said Sandy briefly. 

What is up-stairs? ” 

Sally hustled up the steep steps. “ Goodness! 
I hope I’ll never fall down these. Two cunning 
rooms, Sandy. I can touch the ceilings! One 
is full of lumber, old furniture, and boxes which 
seem to be full. The other has a single bed, 
painted gray with blue flowers, and a bureau to 
match and a wash-stand and rocker. Here is 
another door.” 

Sally’s voice trailed into silence as Sandy 
stood waiting at the foot of the stair. It looked 
very steep and he was tired, in spite of the fact 
that they had broken the trip by a night. In 
his own words, he couldn’t muster an ounce of 
pep. 

There is another and bigger room over what 


46 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


must be a shed/’ reported Sally. It’s a pleas¬ 
ant room with a sloping ceiling and a double bed, 
and some furniture,—not much, but enough so 
we could have company if any ever comes. I 
shall take this room here, to be nearer you.” 

Lucky we brought sheets and things,” said 
Sandy, thinking of the bare mattress of the 
porch bed. 

I shouldn’t wonder if some of those boxes 
had bedding in them,” said Sally practically. 

There is the wee-est little round stove in my 
room, like a length of pipe on end. Isn’t this 
one in the sitting-room nice? ” 

A soapstone stove is fine,” said Sandy ap¬ 
provingly. It holds the heat like everything, 
and this one has sliding doors in front, so it is as 
good as a hearth.” 

Sally was investigating the shed which opened 
from the kitchen. Through it, it was possible to 
reach all the outbuildings and the small barn 
without going from under cover. The shed held 
a considerable quantity of thoroughly dried 
wood, both small and large. 

Here come the boys,” called Sandy, hearing 
the approaching car. 

Jem jumped out, followed by a tall fair-haired 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


47 


boy of unmistakable Scandinavian descent, with 
the keen gray eyes of a viking. Without a word 
they approached the waiting Ford and each 
seized a package. 

Come and tell them where you want things, 
Sally,’^ called her brother. That small trunk 
goes here in the room off the sleeping-porch. Can 
you ever get the other up those stairs? ” 

Guess so,’^ said Jem. Thor merely looked at 
the stairway. 

In an incredibly short time, the trunks were 
in place, the barrel in the kitchen and the va¬ 
rious packages placed according to Sally^s 
directions. 

Thor is going to stay and help what more 
you want,’^ said Jem briefly, and before Sandy 
could offer to pay him, a cheerful toot announced 
his departure for the village. Thor was already 
investigating the useless pump. 

Guess youTl want this ’tended to,” he said 
quietly. Opening the door into the shed, he 
looked around. 

Tools?” asked Sally quickly. There’s a 
set in Humping Henry.” 

Thor bestowed upon her the full glance of his 
very handsome eyes. Then he grinned. 


48 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


That is what we named the Ford. It humped 
something fearful on the way up.^’ 

It would, on these roads. But there must be 
tools here in the shed. ITl take a look at these 
boxes.’’ 

Sally came also. Thor quickly discovered a 
screw-driver. I’ll be taking her apart,” he 
said. “ I’ll need a hammer and a piece of 
leather to make a washer, if you see any.” 

Here is some leather,” said Sally a moment 
later, and perhaps this is a hammer, though I 
never saw one like it.” 

Thor cast a glance at the object mentioned. 

Yes, that’s a hammer,” he said and went on 
working. 

Sally stood considering the tool, which was 
unlike anything of the hammer family that had 
come her way. Instead of a handle inserted in 
the centre of the head with the weight of metal 
nicely balanced on each side, its shaft was set 
almost at the peak of a heavy cone, the sides of 
which were squared at the bottom. It looked 
capable of striking an uncommonly heavy blow 
with the minimum of exerted force. 

Sally laid it beside Thor who had dismembered 
the pump and went to find Sandy, sitting on the 


ROBIN HOLLOW 49 

door-stone gazing dreamily down the valley. He 
looked up with an apologetic smile. 

I know I ought to be helping, Sally, but 
somehow I feel so confoundedly lazy.^^ 

‘‘ You shall not do one thingV^ said Sally 
briskly. Thor is a host in himself. He^s 
already taken that pump apart. 

Let^s hope he knows how to put it together 
again,^^ said Sandy drowsily. 

I believe you could go to sleep in this sun¬ 
shine. There are hammock-hooks on this piazza. 
Uncle Alexander must have had a hammock.’’ 

Sally dived into the house, considering where 
a hammock might be kept. The hall closet, if 
there is one,” she thought. 

Under the steep stairs was a diminutive closet 
with a screech-owl carved on its door, and over a 
hook hung a string hammock. Inside of two 
minutes Sally had it in place and had tested the 
ropes. Another two sufficed to extract from a 
package a pair of army blankets. Within five, 
Sandy was established on the sunny porch with 
eyes already closing. 

Ask where that water comes from,” he mur¬ 
mured almost inaudibly,—“ safe to drink-” 

Thor was industriously cutting a heavy leather 



50 ROBIN HOLLOW 

washer, his big hands moving sure and unbun¬ 
gling. 

Does this water come from a cistern? Sally 
inquired. 

From a spring.’’ 

Whereabouts? ” 

Up Round Knob.” 

Then it’s safe to drink? ” 

Best water round here.” 

This concise, conversation concluded, Sally 
watched the washer fitted into place and the 
pump put together. There followed an exciting 
moment until it began to suck and the water 
came. When it splashed into the sink, a crystal 
stream, Thor looked at her again with the same 
radiant smile. 

Sally liked him and took a sudden resolve. 

Thor,” she began abruptly, my brother isn’t 
well. He’s come up here to get strong and I 
have to take care of him and not let him do 
anything hard. I must find out how to get milk 
and eggs. Where is the best place? ” 

Thor considered gravely. He lifted a lid from 
the rusty cook-stove. 

Guess Ma would let you have milk and eggs,” 
he said hesitatingly. You don’t hme to buy 


ROBIN HOLLOW 51 

’em of us,” lie added with, true delicacy, only 
it’s the nearest place.” 

That’s your house we passed, the nice-looking 
one with the big barn? ” asked Sally. 

Thor looked pleased. Quarter of a mile 
away,” he commented. We have twenty cows.” 

Then, when you get through here. I’ll drive 
you home and ask your mother,” said Sally, 
promptly making up her mind. It is so im¬ 
portant Sandy should have milk and cream.” 

Lung trouble? ” asked Thor. 

Yes,” said Sally soberly, but it has only 
just started and the doctors are positive that he 
will get well. This is a healthy place up here, 
isn’t it? ” 

Sure,” assented Thor. “ People get so healthy 
up here that they just canH die. Look at Gramp 
and Gram down to my house. Gramp’s ninety- 
four and he helps milk every day. Gram’s 
eighty-eight and still going strong.” 

While talking, Thor had lifted every lid of the 
stove and investigated some ashes with a poker 
that his quick eye had noticed. 

Don’t you want me to start a fire? ” he asked 
shyly. If you’re not used to a stove, perhaps 
it would make it easier.” 


52 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Indeed, I wish, you would show me how,” said 
Sally at once. 

Guess I’d better take the box off the chimney 
or we’ll be smoked out,” said Thor, starting for 
the outer door. 

Sally followed, to see him look up where a 
wooden cover, held in place by a stone, capped 
each chimney. 

Goodness—what is that for? ” she asked. 

Always do it when a house is closed. It’s to 
keep squirrels and birds from getting in.” 

But you need a ladder.” 

No, I don’t,” said Thor, swinging himself 
lightly to the roof of the low porch and walking 
easily up the gently sloping gable. For a mo¬ 
ment he stood outlined against the sky, as he 
flung down the heavy stones and removed the 
weather-worn covers. Then he brought an arm¬ 
ful of wood from the shed. 

During the next fifteen minutes while Sally 
studied the mysteries of three dampers, the two 
became well acquainted. In answer to Thor’s 
shy question, Sally told him that she and Sandy 
were orphans, with a great-aunt and uncle for 
their nearest relatives. Sally learned that her 
companion was one of five children. Sigrid, the 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


53 


oldest daughter, was married; then came Thor, 
then Oscar, then Dagmar, and little Hilma was 
the baby. Thor’s ambition was a college educa¬ 
tion, to which his parents were willing to help 
him in every possible way. , 

The worst is,” said Thor, his tongue quite 
unloosed by Sally’s friendliness, the Still River 
school stops with the grammar grades. We have 
to go to Rockville for high school work. Of 
course, in fall and spring, when we can drive 
there and back, it doesn’t waste so much time, 
but when bad weather comes, we have to go by 
train and that’s an all-day job.” 

I couldn’t do that and manage the house¬ 
keeping,” said Sally. And, even if I could, I 
wouldn’t want to leave Sandy so much alone.” 

I’m a senior,” confided Thor. It would be 
hard for you to get to Rockville, but there might 
be another way for you to study.” 

What? ” asked Sally, for sudden shyness had 
again overtaken her companion. 

Why, this,” said Thor hesitatingly. Mr. 
Luther is the minister of the Unitarian church. 
He gave up a place in a big city because they have 
to live in the country on account of Elsie. She’s 
his daughter, about your age. She doesn’t go to 


54 ROBIN HOLLOW 

school and studies with her father. Sometimes 
Mr. Luther gives me a lift because he^s a college 
man himself and knows how I feel. Perhaps you 
could study with Elsie.’^ 

“ Oh, that sounds nice,’^ exclaimed Sally. I 
was hoping I’d have some girl for a friend up 
here. What is Elsie like? ” 

Well, she’s like,—she’s something like a lark¬ 
spur,” said Thor expressively. Eyes, you 
know, and pretty white hands, and wavy hair. 
Not so curly as yours, but just wavy-like. And 
the prettiest smile. You’ll like Elsie and she’ll 
like first-rate to have you here.” 

Robin Hollow seems perfect now I know 
there are some young people,” sighed Sally. 

Why, Thor, do you clean a stove when it is hot? 
Isn’t it dangerous to rub on that kerosene? ” 

It wouldn’t do to pour it on, but this is the 
only way to start the rust. T\nien you get some 
polish, you want to put that on when the stove 
is warm.” 

^‘Did you know Uncle Alexander?” asked 
Sally, making a mental note of this short-cut to 
cleaning a stove. 

I was a little shaver when he died. Yes, I 
remember him. He was a kind man. There 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


55 


wasn^t anything he wouldn’t do to help anybody 
in trouble. People thought a lot of him. All 
Still River came to the house when he died. He 
used to spend days and days in the woods, mak¬ 
ing trails and just enjoying the trees and birds. 
The wild annuals were never afraid of him. He 
could get the squirrels to run all over him and 
the rabbits to eat out of his hand. Even the 
foxes weren’t afraid. They all seemed to know 
he liked them. Why, a deer would let him walk 
up to it and gentle it. They used to say, the 
hunters did, that the week before the open season 
on hunting began, Sandy Hopkins would go out 
and tell the deer and they’d go clean away till 
the time was up. Probably it was only a yarn, 
but all the same, for years on a stretch nobody 
round here could shoot a deer. The woods would 
be full of them till just before the shooting season 
and then it seemed as though they turned invisi¬ 
ble till the guns were barred again. Why, I’ve 
seen the grove here behind Robin Hollow stiff 
with deer just sort of hanging round as though 
they were waiting for him to come out and speak 
to them. Often three or four would be in the 
yard, close up to the house.” 

Uncle Alexander must have been sweet,” said 


I 


56 ROBIN HOLLOW 

Sally in lier impulsive way. I wish I had 
known him.’’ 

Thor gave a last rub to the shining stove. 

Now, I think I’d better see that the sitting- 
room one is in shape,” he suggested. These 
fall nights are cold, and you’ll want a blaze there 
this evening. And wouldn’t it be a good plan to 
take the mattresses and curl them round the 
stoves so they’ll get warmed through? I know 
Ma makes a great fuss of airing mattresses that 
haven’t been slept on for a long time.” 

I think that’s a tine idea,” agreed Sally, 
springing to her feet. I foresee, Thor, that I 
shall never be able to keep house in Robin Hol- 
■ low without help and advice from you.” 

Both will be ready whenever you want 
them,” said Thor quietly. 


CHAPTER IV 


sally’s housekeeping 

Sandy’s nap was long. Once he roused to 
faint consciousness that Humping Henry with 
Sally and Thor was leaving Robin Hollow. 
Later, an inquisitive yellow-jacket, with per¬ 
sistent hum, forced him into lifting an eyelid, 
but it was well after noon before he awoke, feel¬ 
ing rested and unusually hungry. 

The Ford was back, and beside him stood a 
small table, roughly made from birch saplings. 
It held a tray of dishes, their mother’s silver 
forks and spoons contrasting strongly with 
Uncle Alexander’s heavy crockery. 

As though she had been keeping watch on the 
hammock, Sally appeared. She had slipped into 
a gingham dress, protected by a huge apron, and 
a smudge of black ornamented one cheek. 

^^Why did you let me sleep so long?” asked 
Sandy. 

Why not? You didn’t snore. But lunch is 

ready. I’ll bring it out.” 

67 


58 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally’s toast was slightly smoky, but the 
scrambled eggs were fresh and done to a turn. 

Milk, butter, and eggs,” commented Sandy. 
‘‘‘ How did you work it? ” 

Norse magic, I think. Certainly by aid of a 
viking. They came from Thor’s farm and we 
are to have all we want, every day. I have ar¬ 
ranged it with Mrs. Ericsson. She looks like a 
goddess, Sandy, but wait till you see Dagmar. 
Dagmar is ten, and she has a complexion like 
peaches and cream, and hair like spun gold, and 
eyes like fairy flax. And she wears a flax-blue 
gown. And baby Hilma—I just fell down and 
worshipped her. She is so fair, she is almost 
translucent. I never saw anything like her. 
Clean beyond words, and a smile like a baby 
angel. She came to me at once, and was so soft 
and cuddly. There’s nothing quite so nice as a 
year-old baby. I told Mrs. Ericsson she’d have 
to let me come often, just to hug Hilma. 

We may have all the milk and cream and 
.eggs we want, and chickens, too, and fresh vege¬ 
tables so long as they last. And isn’t everything 
delicious? But best of all, they seem so pleased 
to have neighbors in Robin Hollow.” 

We are mighty lucky to find people like them 


SALLY’S HOUSEKEEPING 59 


so near. Thor seemed a fine chap, what I saw 
of him before I went to sleep.’’ 

Thor is nice,” assented Sally and chattered 
on, telling her brother of the boy’s ambitions and 
of the school arrangements in Still River. 

It will be great to strike a person like Mr. 
Luther,” agreed Sandy with enthusiasm suffi-. 
cient to satisfy his sister. 

And I feel in my bones that Elsie and I are 
going to be friends. I sha’n’t miss Betty and 
Marion so much if there is a girl here I really 
like. I’m glad we came. The house is so much 
prettier than I ever dreamed. The only thing I 
can’t understand is how Uncle Alexander en¬ 
dured these ugly dishes. When he cared for 
books and a beautiful rug, and carved owls and 
pine-cones on the doors and squirrels on the 
beams, you would think he would hate these 
heavy old nicked dishes. And there are so few 
that we can’t have company for a meal.” 

It does seem out of character,” agreed Sandy, 
who did not mind the battered crockery and 
thick, blurry tumblers. 

‘^At least, we have Mother’s silver,” sighed 
Sally. I asked Mrs. Ericsson where to go for 
groceries, and she said the store in the post- 


60 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


office,—Moffatt's—was the best. So I went there 
after leaving Thor and bought the whole list of 
things Auntie made out for me.’’ 

I hope you paid cash. Let’s not run any ac¬ 
counts. Then we shall loiow just where we 
stand.” 

I paid for the groceries and paid Mrs. 
Ericsson for the butter and eggs, but she said I 
had better settle monthly for the milk; it would 
be more convenient for her. I couldn’t get Thor 
to take a cent for all he did this morning. And 
when I asked Mrs. Ericsson to make him take it, 
she smiled and said that Thor didn’t want pay 
for helping a neighbor. I told Thor I would just 
thank him this time, but that we must make a 
business arrangement about his chopping wood 
for us. When I got to the store, no more would 
Jem Moffatt take any pay.” 

They are wonderfully kind,” agreed Sandy 
with a smile. He had finished his lunch and was 
again lying luxuriously back in the hammock. 

I love their kindness,” Sally admitted 
thoughtfully, ^^but I hate to be under obliga¬ 
tions.” 

In a place like this, such a tiny village, peo¬ 
ple do kind things out of self-protection, so to 


SALLY’S HOUSEKEEPING 61 


speak. Nobody knows when his turn may come 
to be dependent on a neighbor’s help. I am glad 
you have taken to the Ericssons.” 

Thor isn’t a bit like any boy I ever knew.” 
Sally stopped to think over the list of her ac¬ 
quaintances, gay, happy, care-free, keen on 
dances and shows, not specially interested in 
school, taking Dad’s car and Dad’s money as a 
matter of course, considering college, when they 
thought of it at all, as a place of Greek-letter 
societies, games, and pretty girls, with a few lec¬ 
ture courses to be loafed through as a necessary 
evil. 

Sally was going to college because Sandy said 
so, and she was usually interested in her lessons. 
Her developing appreciation of the value of an 
education made her realize Thor’s ambition. 

I should suppose the Ericssons were well- 
off, at least well-to-do,” she said thoughtfully 
after a period of gazing into the golden sunshine 
flooding Robin Hollow. The old house seemed 
wrapped in its colorful stillness. 

The place looked prosperous and well-kept,” 
Sandy agreed, but often a farmer doesn’t have 
a great deal of ready money. After his fresh¬ 
man year Thor can probably work his way.” 


62 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


The kitchen was spotless/’ mused Sally, but 
Dagmar insisted on showing me the parlor. 
Chairs and sofa with a sort of pale-blue crushed- 
velvet covering, and terrible pictures in heavy gilt 
frames, and a piano with an elaborately carved 
case. The kitchen was a poem, with its yellow- 
painted floor and blue chairs, and white curtains 
with blue dots at the windows, and red gera¬ 
niums on the sills, and brass candlesticks on the 
high mantel and a lot of books and a shiny cook- 
stove. And Dagmar in her blue slip and that 
^00-clean baby! ” 

“ Yet I suppose the plush parlor set represents 
the pinnacle of ambition,” commented Sandy. 

Are there any more of Carrie’s cookies in that 
box? ” 

Sally peeped into the box. One apiece. 
Let’s finish them and eat slowly, for goodness 
knows when we’ll have any more. It was so kind 
of Aunt Ruth to give us such a send-off. When 
she made us promise to stop in Malden on the 
way, I rather expected a lunch to take along, but 
in unpacking Humping Henry, three big pack¬ 
ages came out which we never put in. They are 
marked in Auntie’s writing. I’m not going to 
open them till the house is settled.” 


SALLY’S HOUSEKEEPING 63 


I’ll come now and help,” said Sandy. 

Please don’t. I want you just to lie here and 
soak in this sunshine. I won’t do one thing that 
isn’t necessary; I’ll leave lots for another day. I 
would so much rather have you go exploring 
with me a little later. Save up for that, if you 
love me. You still look sleepy; take another 
nap.” 

Sandy was so blessedly relaxed and lazy and 
the crisp still air and glorious view were so com¬ 
forting, that he did not press the matter. Com¬ 
mon sense told him that this lassitude was per¬ 
fectly natural after the strain of decision and 
change, and that he would be wise to give in to 
it. It was rest itself just to lie in this drowsy 
warmth and watch puffy white clouds trailing 
shadows over the gold and crimson hills. 

When the master of Kobin Hollow left it never 
to return, kind-hearted and sorrowing neighbors 
set his house in order and with loving and scru¬ 
pulously honest care, protected and guarded the 
long-closed cottage. Yet, during the years, dust 
had sifted in, spiders had their way and the 
squirrels burrowed under the eaves to play high 
carnival in the shed chamber. Kobin Hollow 
needed a thorough cleaning, how thorough. 


64 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


neither of its young occupants realized. Sandy 
was indifferent and Sally too inexperienced to 
appreciate the amount of soap and water and 
human energy for which the place was crying. 

Sally opened the cobwebbed windows and saw 
only the view they framed. She piled on the top 
shelves of the pantry the boxes and bottles which 
encumbered the lower ones. The state of her 
fingers then inspired her to brush the vacated 
shelves before arranging in neat rows the gro¬ 
ceries she and Humping Henry had acquired in 
Still Eiver. Then she looked at the fresh bright 
papers and forgot the clutter above. 

She swept the sleeping-porch and the room 
from which it opened; she made Sandy’s bed, 
having pronounced the mattress neither damp 
nor musty, and she unpacked her brother’s 
clothes, leaving his papers and more personal 
belongings for him to arrange as he chose. 

Then she made her own bed and stopped with 
a sigh. The outside world was so beautiful; a 
little brown path led through the neglected gar¬ 
den,—surely she had done enough to justify an 
hour of play. 

Mindful of Aunt Ruth’s reiterated instruc¬ 
tions, she beat up an egg in a glass of milk, and 


SALLY’S HOUSEKEEPING 65 


went out to tlie porcli. Sandy smiled at her 
offering, but swallowed it meekly. 

Keady for a walk? ’’ he asked. I feel like 
the Seven Sleepers. Haven’t had such a snooze 
for years. You’ve slaved long enough; come on 
and see what’s behind the cottage.” 

Shall I lock up? ” asked Sally. 

‘‘ I don’t believe we need to. We sha’n’t be 
far away.” 

To the west of Eobin Hollow lay a cleared 
patch which had once been a garden. Some few 
hardy annuals still struggled with encroaching 
and victorious weeds, and beyond, a plantation 
of blackberry canes showed a commendable 
number of berries. 

What a waste! ” sighed Sally. Never in 
my life have I had all the blackberries I wanted, 
and look at the way these dried on the stems or 
drojoped off. We will have what are left for 
supper.” 

The friendly spruces came to the edge of the 
cleared ground and through them led a narrow 
brown path, twisting in and out among their 
clumps, at every turn rising in a gentle grade. 
Presently it curved around a high ledge to re¬ 
veal an outlook slightly different, but no less 


66 ROBIN HOLLOW 

extensive than that before the cottage. A rustic 
seat stood like an invitation. 

Here we rest! ’’ declared Sandy. Wisest of 
uncles! A place to sit and a view to refresh 
one^s soul. I must learn the names of these 
mountains.^’ 

There is a map hanging in the sitting-room/^ 
replied Sally, ‘‘ but I didn’t look at it very 
closely.” 

Of course there would be a map. I fancy 
that Uncle Alexander did himself mighty well 
in what are the real essentials of a lodge in the 
wilderness.” 

I wish he had included some pretty dishes. 
He certainly made a bad blunder when he bought 
those. There are hardly any to cook with; one 
kettle black as pitch on the outside —furry black, 
not smooth—a frying-pan and two spoons.” 

First aid to the simple life. Few dishes to 
wash evidently struck an harmonic chord in his 
breast. Smell these spruces, Sally, and look at 
the gum! My! that will reduce our monthly 
bills.” 

You know I never chew gum! ” retorted 
Sally indignantly and then laughed because she 
had risen to his teasing. 


SALLY’S HOUSEKEEPING 67 


The path shortly forked at a big birch, the 
left side of which bore a blaze, still to be dis¬ 
tinguished, made with green paint. On the other 
side, a second blaze, less distinct, had once been 
red. Since both were unfamiliar, they took the 
right-hand and more level trail, watching with 
interest for other blazes. 

At intervals, they found them, some on trees, 
others on stones. In years past, the trail had 
evidently been carefully marked and even as it 
was, they were a help in places obscured by un¬ 
derbrush or an occasional fallen tree. 

I see a job for me,’’ said Sandy with some 
animation. ^^As soon as I am up to it, a pot 
of paint, a brush, a small hatchet, and Uncle 
Alexander’s red trail is going to know itself 
again.” 

I’ll come and hatch the underbrush,” said 
Sally eagerly. ^^No fair laughing,—that was 
just a slip of the tongue. Chop, I mean, but why 
isn’t a hatchet used for hatching? ” 

It shall be,” agreed Sandy. Underbrush 
on Round Knob—for I suppose this is Round 
Knob—shall be hatched when necessary. This 
must be the overflow from the spring which Thor 
says is our water supply. Moss and maidenhair 


68 ROBIN HOLLOW 

fern! Mum’s the word, Sally; fairies must be 
near 1 ” 

The brook fell in a series of little cascades 
with a happy chatter over impeding stones. Its 
song could be hushed by no barriers; each proved 
only a fresh cause for merriment. Suddenly 
Sandy caught his sister’s arm. 

Sally glanced quickly at him and followed his 
gaze down the brook. By the pool where the 
water lay deep below the miniature fall, stood 
a deer. 

I 

“ Freeze,” muttered Sandy below his breath, 
and both stood motionless. After a prolonged 
stare, the doe dropped her head and drank 
thirstily, looked at them again, crossed the brook 
in a leisurely manner and sauntered into the 
woods. 

One of Uncle’s friends,” said Sandy. Wish 
I had his gift of winning their confidence.” 

It wasn’t afraid,” said Sally excitedly. 

Perhaps we can make them understand that we 
won’t hurt them.” 

I never could get it through my head why a 
man wants to kill harmless animals. This land 
was once posted for no hunting or trapping, but 
the notices are almost illegible. I’ll see that they 


SALLY’S HOUSEKEEPING 69 


are renewed immediately, for I suppose this is 
all Uncle’s property. There shall be no shooting 
if I can prevent it.” 

How I hope the dear things will come down 
to Kobin Hollow as Thor says they used to do,” 
sighed Sally. ‘‘ I can see a thin place ahead in 
the trees.” 

The red-marked trail came to an apparent end 
at a ledge overlooking the eastern side of Round 
Knob, a spot of heaped and broken stone with a 
beautiful but restricted view. 

Path number one is wholly satisfactory,” 
said Sandy, looking at his watch. ^^We will 
hope the green trail is up to sample. But I 
ought not to walk any more, I am afraid. Sis, so 
let’s turn back. I’m counting on our first Robin 
Hollow sunset, and here we are entirely in the 
wrong place for it.” 


CHAPTER V 


CONCERNING CHINA 

Not until she went to bed that night did Sally 
make a thorough inspection of her room. 
Though the evening, as Thor prophesied, fell 
chill, the tiny chamber under the sloping roof 
was pleasantly warm from the heat in the room 
below. 

They had eaten their evening meal before the 
open soapstone stove where a wood-fire snapped 
and flickered, making a lamp almost unnecessary. 
That lamp gave no satisfactory light, due to a 
cloudy chimney, but Sally, quite unused to oil 
illumination, did not appreciate the reason. 
Sandy gave it a glance but said nothing. He 
did not care to read and meant to go to bed 
early. 

Sally said good-night and went up, leaving her 

brother to undress before the fire and then make 

a dash for his cold and starry sleeping-porch and 

a bed piled with blankets. If fresh air possessed 

70 


CONCERNING CHINA 71 

its reputed virtue, surely Robin Hollow was the 
best possible place for him. 

Sandy meant to make a big fight to get well. 
He would follow directions strictly, eat, rest, and 
keep a calm mind—for one year. At the end of 
that time, he hoped and believed he would be 
out of the woods. Tucked into the outdoor bed 
he could see the light cast by Sally^s candle from 
her west window. Presently she came to it and 
spoke. 

Snug as can be,’’ he said in answer to her 
question. Warm as toast and very comfy.” 

How nice that my room is so near your 
porch. I don’t feel far away if you can hear me 
speak so easily.” 

‘‘ Call any time you like,” replied her brother. 

The sound of his voice in the soft darkness 
dispelled the little feeling of loneliness which 
was creeping over Sally. Quite contented, she 
turned to prepare for bed. 

I think I’ll lock the door,” she mused. Of 
course Sandy is just below my window, but if I 
wanted him, he would have to cross two rooms 
and the entry to the stairs. Those empty rooms 
up here seem rather spooky.” 

To her surprise the door had no lock and no 


72 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


handle beyond an old-fashioned latch. Sally did 
not Imow that this was of hand-wrought iron and 
that the door itself was of interest because of 
the upright cross and small upper panels. The 
next moment she discovered that she could se¬ 
cure the door by means of a tiny iron button, 
which, when pushed down, made it impossible to 
lift the latch from the outer side. 

No burglars for me,’’ she thought and then 
ran back to her window. 

Asleep, Sandy? ” she asked. Is your pistol 
ready in case there is a burglar? ” 

Tell me a minute or two before you hear 
your burglar,” drawled her brother sleepily, be¬ 
cause it takes that long to load the pistol.” 

Sally laughed and subsided. After all, her 
room was pleasantly cosy, though its beamed 
ceiling was unplastered and she had to take care 
not to bump her head in the angles. 

It is dusty,” she thought, and I don’t like 
spiders, but to-morrow I will brush down all the 
webs.” 

Next day the sun rose upon another glorious 
September morning. Sally woke shortly after 
six and lay luxuriously watching the hills op¬ 
posite her window. More frost during the night 


CONCERNING CHINA 73 

had deepened their radiant colors and touched 
into flame several hesitating maples. 

What a heavenly place! she thought. I 
suppose it is time to get up. My! it’s chilly.” 

Hustling into her clothes, she scuttled down 
to the sitting-room where a welcome warmth still 
lingered in the faithful soapstone stove. Inex¬ 
perienced in wood-fires though she was, Sally 
managed to do the right thing with drafts, much 
pleased to see her handful of kindling burst into 
flame. When the fire was crackling cheerfully 
she opened the door to the sleeping-porch where 
Sandy greeted her with a smile and a yawn. 

Time to crawl out? Such a sleep as I’ve had. 
I feel pumped perfectly full of ozone. Any bur¬ 
glars? ” 

No,” replied Sally, but I never heard any¬ 
thing like the way this old house snapped and 
cracked. It sounded like people creeping up and 
down-stairs all night.” 

Old timber always does'that,” commented 
Sandv. 

“ The sitting-room is warm for you to dress 
and I’ll be getting breakfast.” 

hate to have you wait on me this way,” 
said Sandy soberly. 


74 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


It’s my turn,” retorted Sally. It’s only 
fair. You will have to let me be boss of the 
ranch for a while.” 

She ran off, singing gayly, to tackle the cold 
kitchen stove. With this she was less success¬ 
ful, but in time had cause to thank Thor’s in¬ 
structions. She put water to heat for coffee and 
searched in vain for a coffee-pot. 

I believe Uncle Alexander didn’t drink coffee, 
or else he made it in the frying-pan,” she con¬ 
cluded after ransacking the closet. Sandy,” 
she called, ^^how can I make coffee without a 
pot? ” 

Sauce-pan,” came her brother’s concise an¬ 
swer. 

There isn’t any, only a black kettle.” 

Use that, and we will buy a coffee-pot in the 
village.” 

I do hate this old black thing! ” grumbled 
Sally, as Sandy came into the kitchen in search 
of hot water for shaving. 

That comes from cooking over wood,” he ex¬ 
plained. Saves a lot of work. You have only 
to keep the inside of the kettle clean and let the 
outside go.” 

Oh, that’s the water for my coffee,” protested 


CONCERNING CHINA 75 

Sally. “ Well, I suppose you may have half a 
cupful.’^ 

Her brother took more than that amount and 
Sally was obliged to boil again for the coffee. 
She was not wholly pleased with the result and 
still felt strongly about the unattractive dishes 
bequeathed by Uncle Alexander. Even a center- 
piece of gay plumed asters served only to redeem 
the glass in which they were placed; Sally felt 
that they could not bring up the level of the 
whole table service. 

I wish we could buy some pretty dishes,^’ she 
thought, but I am not going to suggest it, be¬ 
cause we mustn^t spend money for things we 
don^t really need. How uneven this kitchen 
floor is! The planks in it are a good foot wide. 
It needs painting. I could do that, but I sup¬ 
pose it ought to be washed first.’^ 

IsnT it fun to have a home of our own? 
she asked as they sat down to breakfast in the 
pleasant kitchen, with the stove performing its 
duty so nobly that it was possible to open both 
sunny south windows. 

It is worth a good deal to me just now,” said 
Sandy, stirring his coffee. ‘^I keep wishing I 
had known Uncle Alexander better. He must 


76 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


have been awfully well worth while. I only hope 
this stunt isn’t going to be too hard for you, 
Sallykins.” 

Hard! ” said Sally. I think it is the best 
fun in the world. I’ve always w^anted to keep 
house for you. But we really must buy a few 
spoons and a knife that will cut something. At 
one time I thought I should have to cut the 
bread with the scissors.” 

Let’s make a list of what we need, but before 
we go shopping we’d better look the house over 
a bit more extensively. Didn’t you say there wms 
a lot of stuff in the storeroom? And there are 
Aunt Euth’s packages.” 

We will open them as soon as I get the 
breakfast dishes done,” suggested Sally. “ That 
reminds me,—I must put some water on to heat 
for the dishes. I’m thankful to say there is a 
teakettle.” 

While the water was heating, Sally set Sandy’s 
room in order, leaving her own for more thorough 
treatment. Then they did the dishes, Sandy 
proving an excellent hand with a towel. The 
last one put away, Sally pulled a comfortable 
chair out on the porch for her brother, and 
brought her aunt’s three packages. The unfolded 


CONCERNING CHINA 


77 


papers of the first revealed two pairs of thick 
wool blankets, two wool puffs and a huge mass 
of fur. On top of the pile lay a note. 

Dear Sally and Sandy, it read. 

I am taking comfort as well as pleasure 
in sending additional coverings for your beds. I 
know you think you have an ample amount, but 
a mountain winter is very cold. You will find 
everything useful. And, at Caleb^s own sugges¬ 
tion, I include his old fur coat. Sandy will really 
need one if he is to stay on the porch in all 
weather. The contents of the other two packages 
are for you, Sally, and I hope they may brighten 
somewhat your household duties. 

With much love, 

^^Aunt Ruth.’’ 

That is kind of Uncle Caleb,” commented 
Sandy. Somehow, when we stopped that morn¬ 
ing, I got the impression that he cared rather 
more about us than we gave him credit for do¬ 
ing. But how he and Uncle Alexander could 
have been brothers is more than I can under¬ 
stand. That coat will come in very handy in 
many ways, and I have no doubt we may be glad 
of the extra blankets and puffs.” 

It looks as though we should sleep warm, 
whatever happens in the daytime,” assented 
Sally. Dear Aunt Ruth! I wonder what she 
has sent me.” 


78 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


An easy way to find out is to look/’ sug¬ 
gested Sandy and Sally turned to the second 
package, a heavy pasteboard carton carefully 
wrapped, and tied with stout cord. 

We sha’n’t need to buy a coffee-pot,” she ex¬ 
claimed triumphantly as the unpacking pro- • 
grossed. Auntie has given us her percolator, 
the one with the alcohol lamp. She has an elec¬ 
tric one now, you know. Isn’t that fine? I don’t 
know anything we shall enjoy more. Oh, here 
is a pretty blue Japanese crepe table-cloth and 
six napkins, the kind that don’t have to be ironed, 
just washed out.” 

Sally’s satisfaction over the contents of this 
box was really funny. She fairly purred over 
the percolator. But when she opened the third 
package and burrowed into the excelsior it con¬ 
tained, her purrs became exclamations of excite¬ 
ment and delight. 

I couldn’t have believed it! ” she said sol¬ 
emnly. It is like an answer to prayer.” 

Sandy laughed over her ecstatic attitude as 
with hands clasped, she surveyed the breakfast 
set of clear, flame-yellow pottery, plates, cereal 
dishes, cups and saucers, cream pitcher and 
sugar bowl. 


CONCERNING CHINA 


79 


It is as though Aunt Kuth knew about those 
ugly dishes. How much better to-morrow morn¬ 
ing’s breakfast will taste! Just think, Sandy, 
how pretty the table will look with that lovely 
blue cloth and these dishes like bits of cold 
fire! ” 

Sandy had enjoyed the breakfast just eaten, 
but his affection for Sally enabled him to see her 
point of view. 

I’m mighty glad she sent them, since you’ve 
taken such a scunner to those of Uncle Alex¬ 
ander’s.” 

Of course we shall have to use those for 
other meals, but now our breakfasts will be per¬ 
fect. I must write to Auntie to-day. I shall be 
heart-broken if I ever break any of these lovely 
dishes.” 

Better not make an idol of them. I may do 
the smashing.” 

I should like,” Sally went on, just as a 
relief to my feelings, to take that queer hammer 
from the shed and pound into dust that inch- 
thick cup I used this morning. But it may be 
useful for molasses or vinegar or something. 
Here’s Dagmar with the milk. Look, Sandy, 
isn’t she a picture? ” 


80 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Friendly Sally went to meet the child coming 
shyly across the grass. She took the pail and 
clasped Dagmar’s chilly little palm in her own 
warm hand. 

Ma says/^ said Dagmar, after she had taken 
a good look at Sally’s brother and decided that 
if he was sick he looked pleasant, could you 
get on with three eggs to-day? Because the baby 
got into the pantry and dropped seventeen on 
the floor, so there won’t be any more till the 
hens lay some.” 

Seventeen eggs! ” exclaimed Sally. Oh, 
the naughty darling! ” 

Hilma didn’t mean to be bad,” explained 
loyal Dagmar. I guess she liked to hear them 
smash. But then she sat down on top of them.” 

0-oh,” said Sally with a shiver, just think 
of the mess! ” 

She was all egg,” Dagmar agreed, and 
Gram washed her in the big tub and Ma washed 
the floor. Hilma giggled and squealed and 
thought it was great fun.” 

That baby must be some chicken,” said 
Sandy gravely. 

She’s a nice baby,” replied Dagmar shyly, 
not quite certain what the tall young man with 


CONCERNING CHINA 81 

the smiling face meant. She looked with wide 
eyes at the yellow pottery. 

Are you going to eat from these pretty 
dishes? ’’ she asked, full of admiration. 

We are,^’ said Sally. My auntie who lives 
near Boston gave them to us.’’ 

She must be a nice auntie. Daisies would 
look pretty in that.” 

She touched the sugar bowl with one dainty 
finger-tip. 

Would they not? ” Sally agreed. Do you 
know, Dagmar, I think you have such a pretty 
dress.” 

The child looked at her blue cotton frock. 

Do you like it? ” she asked. I like the color 
but I don’t like the dress because the bottom is 
so little that it is hard work to step enough to 
get home.” 

That is certainly a drawback,” Sandy re¬ 
marked with twinkling eyes. 

Have you time to stop and play with me, 
Dagmar? ” asked Sally. I’d love to have you.” 

I must go home and help Ma, but I’ll come 
some other time if you want me. Ma said I 
wasn’t to hang around and bother you, but if you 
really want me, I could tell her so.” 


82 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Indeed, I do. I haven’t had a little girl 
friend for a long time. Tell Mother it is all right 
about the eggs, and that you won’t bother me one 
bit if you can stay next time.” 

That child should have her picture painted,” 
said Sandy as Dagmar danced away. Such 
coloring! If I’d ever done anything but black 
and white, I’d try it myself.” 

Do try,” Sally urged. “ Try in pencil. She’s 
so pretty that just a sketch would be worth 
while. But think of that clean Hilma sitting 
down in the sop of seventeen eggs! What a 
slimy mess! ” 

Sally left her brother established in the ham¬ 
mock, a selection of books from Uncle Alex¬ 
ander’s library on the birch table at his elbow. 
After putting away Aunt Kuth’s welcome gifts, 
she washed the living-room windows. She made 
a fairly good job of them but stopped when she 
realized that floor and paint also needed clean¬ 
ing. 

I’ll get a woman if I can,” she decided. 

The house doesn’t seem so dirty, at least it 
didn’t till I saw Mrs. Ericsson’s kitchen, but I 
never washed a floor in my life and I don’t know 
how it would look if I tried. There must be 


CONCERNING CHINA 


83 


some woman who will come just for a day. And 
then there is our laundry. I wonder if they 
have a steam one in Still Eiver. I must find 
some way to get clothes washed.’’ 

Sally left the living-room, swept her own room, 
dusted it and unpacked her trunk. 

That is all the extra work I’m going to do 
to-day,” she decided. It must be almost time 
to take Sandy a glass of milk and some fruit. 
Before I go down I am going to look into these 
boxes here in this room. Whatever is in them 
must belong to the house.” 

Ten minutes later, such was her haste, Sally 
almost fell the length of the steep stairs. She 
burst upon the porch where Sandy laid down his 
book to stare at his sister, now executing a dance 
down the long piazza, and clasping in one hand 
a thin glass goblet on a graceful standard and 
in the other a dainty blue plate. 

Can you believe your eyes? ” she demanded. 

I take back all I ever said or thought about 
Uncle Alexander’s taste in dishes. In every re¬ 
spect it was perfect! Sandy, in that storeroom 
next mine are two boxes, one with what appears 
to be a whole set of this blue china and the other 
has quite a lot of this thin glass. It is all right 


84 ROBIN HOLLOW 

for us to use them, isn’t it? Don’t they belong 
to us? ” 

^^Why, of course. They go with the house. 
Let me take the plate. I think I have seen that 
design before.” 

Sally handed it over and her brother examined 
it closely. 

Use them by all means,” he said as he re¬ 
turned it after a careful scrutiny of both back 
and front, ‘‘‘ only if you are going to smash any¬ 
thing, choose Aunt Euth’s pottery, for that can 
be replaced, but, if I am not mistaken, and of 
course, I can’t be sure without looking it up, I 
think this is what is called Lafayette ware. If 
it is, it is valuable.” 

Sally looked dismayed. Perhaps I ought not 
to bring it down.” 

“ Oh, yes, go ahead and enjoy it. I’m glad you 
have found it. I don’t know anybody who will 
get more fun out of using those dishes. It did 
seem odd that Uncle Alexander with his love for 
books and the good taste he showed in other 
ways, should have been satisfied with that thick 
crockery. Now, I would like to know why he 
kept that fiax-wheel here in his living-room. He 
certainly didn’t use it, and he never married, and 


CONCERNING CHINA 85 

it^s a queer thing to find in the home of an old 
bach, no matter how you look at 

“ It is queer,” Sally agreed, but perhaps we 
shall know the reason sometime. Til wash this 
glass so you can have some milk in it and then 
I am going to bring down all we need of the 
blue dishes. Sandy Allison, I am now perfectly 
and absolutely satisfied with Robin Hollow.” 


CHAPTER VI 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 

As Sandy anticipated, tlie other 560 inhab¬ 
itants of Still River were iininensely interested 
in the news that Robin Hollow had again become 
a home. There was not a house in the village 
nor an outlying farm where discussion of the 
newcomers did not take place over the dinner 
table or around the evening lamp. The people 
who encountered either Sandy or Sally in trips 
to store or post-office were eagerly questioned in 
minute detail about the two. 

Their being alone in the world, evidently de¬ 
voted to each other, and Sandy’s record as a war 
veteran, disposed a kindly feeling toward them 
at the start, and when Josh Moffatt reported 
that the boy was a pleasant-spoken chap and the 
girl a regular charmer, it was generally con¬ 
ceded that the new inhabitants of Robin Hollow 
might be an acquisition to the neighborhood. 
Some warm-hearted mothers of families heaved 

a sigh and shook a dubious head over Sally’s 

86 - 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 


87 


potential problems. To keep a bouse warm dur¬ 
ing a Vermont winter and to feed properly a 
brother who needed special care and thought in 
the preparation of meals, seemed to them con¬ 
siderable of an undertaking for a girl of Sally^s 
age. 

In no home in Still Eiver did their arrival 
cause more kindly interest, Ericsson^s farm ex¬ 
cepted, than in the white house belonging to the 
pastor of the Unitarian church. Dr. Luther had 
accomplished that extraordinarily difficult and 
well-nigh impossible feat of a successful city pas¬ 
tor deliberately choosing a small parish in a 
country community, and making himself ac¬ 
ceptable both as a minister and a man. It is 
probable that he could have done neither with¬ 
out the help of his wife. Alice Luther was one of 
those infrequent individuals, wholly without 
self-consciousness, possessed with a real genius 
for making friends. She could put at ease the 
shyest of country lads or meet on his own ground 
the most scholarly or sophisticated city guest. 
Her husband and her children adored her. 

The Luthers had given up a large and pros¬ 
perous city parish because of the delicate health 
of their only daughter. A chance summer in a 


88 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


village neighboring to Still Eiver had been of 
such marked benefit to Elsie that her physicians 
recommended a winter in those mountains. For 
Elsie to stay alone was out of the question. One 
son was in college, the other in preparatory 
school, and, knowing that the church in Still 
River was without a pastor, indeed, could not 
afford one except during the summer months. Dr. 
Luther made arrangements to supply it for a 
year. The year lengthened into three and bid 
fair to be prolonged indefinitely. The cold, crisp 
winters agreed with Elsie, and after a few trial 
visits to town made her wilt like a drooping 
flower, nothing more was said about leaving Still 
River. Gradually the house assumed more and 
more the character of a permanent home, and 
Dr. Luther found compensation for loss of city 
privileges by long hours gained for study and 
writing. Jack and Andrew considered the place 
excellent for vacations, but even if it had struck 
them as dull, they would have endured it for love 
of Elsie. 

The arrival in Still River of a new and re¬ 
putedly attractive girl of her own age excited 
and delighted Elsie. After Thor Ericsson in his 
quiet way drew a charming picture of vivacious 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 


89 


and friendly Sally, Elsie was anxious to call, and 
a week after the Allisons came to Kobin Hollow, 
easily induced her father and mother to go with 
her. 

Let’s take some flowers, Mumsey,” she pro¬ 
posed. Our zinnias are stunning just now and 
there isn’t much left of the garden at Eobin 
Hollow.” 

Mrs. Luther assented, and when Elsie came to 
the car with her flowers, her mother carried a 
large flat basket. 

The Buick roadster seated three and Elsie took 
the wheel. The absent-minded manner in which 
her father settled into the corner showed that he 
did not desire nor expect to drive and that his 
thoughts were still with the work left on his 
desk. 

What a wonderful fall we are having,” said 
Mrs. Luther as the car sped smoothly through 
the little village. It seems to me I never saw 
the mountains so clear nor the whole world so 
beautiful.” 

Elsie gave a little chuckle of pure amusement. 

Without swerving the wheel, she managed to 
rub her cheek affectionately against her mother’s. 

I heard that remark in April,” she said teas- 


90 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


ingly, about the time the hepaticas blossomed. 
I heard it again when the hylas began to peep. 
I heard it several times during June and July 
and I expect to hear it again during October, 
November, and December.’’ 

But it is unusually lovely,” said Mrs. Luther 
laughing. 

So it is, Mumsey. Look at the blueness of 
Killington Peak! See the shadows in the yah 
leys, purple and dusky cobalt. And every tree 
and shrub a living flame. I think autumn is the 
loveliest time of the whole year. I can’t see why 
people think it sad. To me it is the happiest 
and most restful season of the four.” 

' Then came the Autumn all in yellow clad,’ ” 
quoted Mr. Luther. “ What a fine stand of corn 
Ericsson is harvesting. That farm is a sight to 
cheer one’s heart.” 

Elsie took a hand from the wheel and waved to 
Thor, who turned, sickle in air, to glance at 
the passing car. 

“We will stop on the way back,” said Mrs. 
Luther, looking to see if any one were visible at 
the farmhouse windows. “I want to see Mrs. 
Ericsson and the baby.” 

“ Yes,” said her husband, rousing himself. 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 91 

And I must learn Thorns plans for the winter. 
I hope he means to go to school.^’ 

He does, Daddy,’’ said Elsie. He’s expect¬ 
ing to go to Eockville. He told me so the other 
day.” 

Elsie drove the car over the green sod before 
Kobin Hollow and stopped her engine, ^^obody 
was in sight and the only signs of life were the 
hammock swinging empty on the porch and a 
book lying beside it on the rustic table. 

The car is under the shed,” said Mr. Luther, 

so they can’t be far off.” 

Two knocks produced no result, yet the open 
windows and general air of habitation showed 
that the house was but temporarily deserted. 

I will try once more,” said Elsie. ‘‘ I can’t 
bear to go away without seeing Sally.” 

Her third knock produced a faint stir within 
Kobin Hollow and in a moment the door was 
opened. 

Elsie was ready with a friendly greeting, made 
still more cordial because curly-haired Sally in 
her rose gingham looked a most attractive lady 
of the house. Yet, in that first glance, it was 
plain to both Elsie and her mother that Sally’s 
dark eyes were pink-rimmed as though from pro- 


92 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


longed crying. Kindly, absent-minded Mr. 
Luther noticed nothing but the sweet and pretty 
dignity with which their little hostess welcomed 
them. 

“ Let us sit on the porch by all means,’’ said 
Mrs. Luther in answer to her question. In this 
glorious weather I begrudge every minute spent 
indoors.” 

We are out most of the time,” said Sally. 

I am so sorry that my brother isn’t here just 

now. He is at that seat—perhaps you know it— 

on the turn just above the cottage. If you will 

excuse me for two minutes I’ll run and tell him 
• 

you are here.” 

Let me walk up and find him,” said Mr. 
Luther at once. I know that seat well and I 
can’t miss your brother. There are not enough 
people in Still River so I could mistake him.” 

Sally assented to this suggestion. He will 
be delighted to see you, Mr. Luther. He has been 
looking forward to meeting you ever since Thor 
told us about your living here.” 

Mr. Luther went off through the overgrown 
garden and Elsie presented her flowers. Sally 
was charmed. 

Oh, thank you! ” she exclaimed. I love 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 93 

flowers and these are such beautiful shades. Let 
me get that big gray jar to put them in. It is 
just the thing.’^ 

Over arranging the zinnias, Sally lost her little 
air of constraint. I’m so glad you came,” she 
said. And I am ashamed that you caught me 
this way. After Sandy went up to Uncle’s seat, 
I tried to make cake, and I burned it, and my 
wrist, and got most of the dishes in the house 
dirty. The fire went out and the cake isn’t fit 
for anything but the Ericssons’ pigs, and so I 
went up-stairs and cried. I had to cry early, 
you see, before I cleared up the mess, because I 
wouldn’t have Sandy see me with red eyes for 
anything.” 

Sally’s charmingly frank confession completed 
her conquest. 

You poor dear! ” exclaimed Elsie, kissing her 
on the spot. 

It is a shame,” said Mrs. Luther, her face 
lighting with the sweetest and most motherly of 
expressions. I know what a trial a wood-fire 
can be even to an experienced cook. Sally, I 
think a southerly-bound bluebird must have whis¬ 
pered a hint as he passed my house. Don’t give 
that ruined cake another thought, I brought 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


94 

you one in my basket, for I bad a feeling it might 
come in handy.’’ 

‘‘ Thank you so much,” said Sally, wiping 
away a last escaping tear, one so confused with a 
smile that it had the effect of sun through 
shower. believe the kindest people in the 
world live in Still Eiver. I am ashamed of cry¬ 
ing, but I was so mad with that stove and that 
cake that I really had to let go. I was planning 
to come down and try again, but now I sha’n’t 
have to, to say nothing of Sandy’s having a cake 
that is fit to eat. It will be a reward to him for 
putting up with some dreadful cooking this past 
week.” 

The best plan is to stick to very simple 
things,” said Mrs. Luther comfortingly. 

Yes, I have found that out, but it is the fire 
that bothers me. I use the oil stove for some 
things, but I can’t bake on that. If Sandy 
wasn’t the saint he is, he would fire me and ad¬ 
vertise for a new housekeeper. I can make de¬ 
cent salad and boil water without burning it, but 
that’s about all.” « 

Do you understand how to manage the oven 
drafts? ” 

Thor told me when he showed me how to 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 


95 


build a lire. I shall just have to experiment until 
I get the knack. Sandy really cooks better than 
I do, because he has camped so much. He broiled 
steak the other day and it was perfect. But I 
don^t like to have him do it. It is so important 
he should rest.^^ 

The wistful note in Sally^s voice touched both 
her hearers. 

He will soon get strong,’’ said Elsie. Look 
at me, Sally. Would you ever believe that I 
came to Still Kiver on a stretcher? ” 

Sally gave the radiant face an incredulous 
look. Xot really? ” she asked. 

Eeally and truly, ^^'ow, I can ride horse¬ 
back and play tennis and do anything I like in 
the way of a tramp or picnic. Your brother isn’t 
nearly so ill as that to begin with.” 

Sally’s sigh of relief was audible as she looked 
at her comforter. Thor was right in his poetic 
comparison of Elsie to a larkspur; there was 
something peculiarly flower-like in her slender 
graceful flgure and lovely face. 

I almost burst with joy when Thor told 
me about your coming,” said Elsie gayly. 

Mumsey will admit that she has had to restrain 
me almost forcibly from flying straight to Kobin 


96 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Hollow. And now, you will find me a nuisance 
because I am coming every cbance I get. But 
you will do part of the visiting, won^t you? 

Indeed, I will,’’ promised Sally earnestly. 
Mrs. Luther smiled at the two. Elsie was sitting 
beside Sally on the porch step, and if there were 
ever a case of love at first sight, this was one. 
Her own heart warmed to plucky Sally. 

How are you getting on? ” she asked with 
real interest. I mean aside from the spoiled 
cake? ” 

Oh, pretty well,” said Sally. I know I 
don’t do things right, that is, not the way other 
people would, but Sandy never complains. It 
worries me for fear I don’t give him all he ought 
to eat. I have learned a lot this week, though. 
I have found out what days to get meat from 
the butcher’s truck, and Mrs. Ericsson showed me 
how to make beef-tea and it turned out splen¬ 
didly.” 

And is your brother feeling any benefit yet 
from the change? ” 

“ The first few days he slept so much and 
seemed so tired that I was frightened,” admitted 
Sally. ‘‘ But he has fine nights and he says that 
he has to hold back from doing things. Just the 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 


97 


feeling that he would like to do more seems an 
improvement, doesn^t it? At the end of a month 
he is to drive over to Eutland to see a doctor 
recommended by ours in Boston, and we are not 
going to expect anything special till that time is 
up. And now, I want to give you some tea. I 
can make that so it is fit to drink. I hear voices, 
so Sandy and Mr. Luther are coming.’^ 

Elsie went into the house to help prepare the . 
tray and was presently exclaiming over the blue 
dishes. 

Mr. Hopkins died before we came to Still 
River but people still talk about him, of how 
much they liked him and about Robin Hollow. 
Somebody told Mother that he had lovely china.’^ 

I should have died with mortification to serve 
tea with the cups we found first,’’ sighed Sally. 

These, and the yellow ones Aunt Ruth sent— 
aren’t they lovely?—make all the difference to 
my feelings. Elsie, you will find nabiscos in that 
tin box.” 

“ And a heavenly blue plate to put them on. 
Mumsey will rave over this pottery.” 

I don’t know anything about it. Why is it 
so choice? ” 

The design on it is Lafayette’s chfiteau in 


98 ROBIN HOLLOW 

France. It is uncommon—not very much of it 
known to exist.^’ 

I suppose it will be just my luck to break it, 
but Sandy said to go ahead and use it. Are they 
here? ’’ 

Daddy and your brother? Yes, talking to 
Mother. He looks awfully nice, Sally, and not 
very ill, either. His face is quite tanned and he 
isn^t dreadfully thin.’’ 

Oh, I do think he will get well here,” sighed 
Sally. ‘‘ Now, if the kettle boils, it is ready to 
take out.” 

Sandy looked approbation as his sister brought 
the tray and proceeded to act as hostess with a 
girlish charm that was very winning. He and 
Mr. Luther had already established a basis of 
friendship and the call ended with an invitation 
given and accepted for dinner the next Tuesday 
at the parsonage. 

Elsie is a dear! ” said Sally as she stood with 
hand tucked through Sandy’s arm to see them 
drive away. I knew she would be nice, but she 
is even better than I expected. And Mrs. Luther 
is lovely. I adore mothers like that. She thinks 
it much wiser that we decided not to have a cow. 
She says hay is expensive and hard to get and 


ELSIE COMES TO CALL 


99 


that we can depend upon the Ericssons for let¬ 
ting us have milk right along. And she thinks 
we could get some coal so the kitchen fire will 
keep over night. It is scarce and costs a good 
deal, but it would be worth while. We shall need 
mountains of wood if we don^t have any coal. 
And she will try to get a woman she knows to 
come one day a week and clean or cook and that 
will help a lot. But the butcher’s automobile 
really is the only way to get meat, only later on, 
it will be a cart. Fruit is always scarce in 
winter, but they have boxes of oranges and grape¬ 
fruit sent from the city and we can do that if 
we can’t get it any other way. I think I will go 
to Sunday school and help Elsie teach the babies. 
She says they are sweet. I feel exactly like danc¬ 
ing, Sandy dear, but it will have to be a solo 
dance, because you mustn’t.” 


CHAPTER VII 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 

A FEW days later, while Sally was lovingly 
washing the yellow breakfast set, Elsie’s car 
hooted loudly under the windows of Robin Hol¬ 
low. Elsie sprang out, followed by a stout mid¬ 
dle-aged woman as Sally ran to the door. 

This is Mrs. Hodges,” said Elsie gayly. 

Mother told her you wanted some cleaning 
done, and she could come to-day, so I brought her 
up and I thought you would take her home. 
Sally, you need a telephone. We had to take a 
chance on its being convenient for you to have 
Mrs. Hodges.” 

I do want some help,” said the delighted 
Sally. I am so glad to see you, Mrs. Hodges, 
and, Elsie, it is ever so good of you and your 
mother.” 

Glad to come,” said Mrs. Hodges. Robin 
Hollow must need a sight of cleanin’ for I don’t 
believe it has been touched since me and Ellen 
Saunders packed things up after Mr. Hopkins 
passed away.” 


100 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 101 


‘‘It was you who put away the blue dishes 
and the glass? Sally asked with interest. 

Yes/^ said Mrs. Hodges, evidently pleased. 
“We packed the dishes and the beddin^ and the 
fore-room rug real careful, so nothin’ would hap¬ 
pen to them. We left the house in as good shape 
as we knew, but of course we didn’t suppose it 
would stand empty all these years.” 

“ Won’t you stop, Elsie? ” begged Sally. 

“ Don’t ask me, darling. You don’t know how 
much I want to, but I have to drive for Dad this 
morning. But, if you will let me. I’ll come to¬ 
morrow and we will have a picnic hike on Bound 
Knob.” 

“Oh, will you?” exclaimed Sally in joy. 
“ There’s nothing I want more than a real climb, 
and of course Sandy isn’t up to it. The one 
walk we took was too much for him. I will leave 
his lunch and we’ll take all the nice part of the 
day.” 

Having arranged their plan, Elsie drove away 
and Sally returned to the kitchen where she 
found Mrs. Hodges preparing for labor by step¬ 
ping out of her wool skirt and revealing a work¬ 
man-like cotton dress. 

“ I guess I’ll begin with the floor and paint in 


102 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


the front room/’ she announced capably. 

There’s hot water enough for a start.” 

Sally stood a little amazed at not having her 
wishes consulted but was sensible enough to real¬ 
ize that Mrs. Hodges knew exactly what she was 
about and could do it ten times more quickly and 
efhciently than Sally herself. She could only 
admire the masterly manner in which she com¬ 
menced operations. 

Sandy looked into the living-room and beat a 
hasty retreat. It seems to be a case of stand 
from under,” he murmured in Sally’s ear. 

She has taken out every stick of furniture 
except the bookcases, clock, and stove,” whis¬ 
pered the awed Sally. I wonder if I had better 
tell her that I washed those windows; she doesn’t 
seem to know it! ” 

Better not,” advised Sandy cautiously, and 
betook himself with a blanket and book to Uncle 
Alexander’s rustic seat on the hill. Sally with¬ 
drew to the kitchen, where she finished her 
dishes, refilled the teakettle, replenished the fire, 
and, with many painstaking references to Aunt 
Euth’s receipt, concocted a custard for baking. 

From all indications, the living-room was be¬ 
ing shaken to its foundations. Sweeping, swish- 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 103 

ing, splasMng came to Sally’s ear. Tlie furni¬ 
ture on the porch was beaten and dusted, the rug 
painstakingly swept on both sides. Then the 
march of broom and mop included Sandy’s room 
and the sleeping-porch. 

Sally prepared her brother’s mid-morning 
lunch and, when she came for hot water, was in¬ 
spired to offer Mrs. Hodges some biscuit and a 
glass of milk. 

Would you mind making it tea? Milk is no 
treat to me.” 

Sally handed her the canister. Please make 
it just as you like,” she said pleasantly. My 
brother and I both prefer it so weak that most 
people would think it dish-water.” 

On the hillside seat, Sandy was far enough 
from the house to escape all sound of commo¬ 
tion. Though the day was cool, outdoor reading 
or writing was perfectly comfortable in that shel¬ 
tered spot. Time had not seemed long and he 
was surprised when Sally came up the path with 
a basket containing a glass and a thermos flask 
of milk. Her apricot linen frock and brown 
sweater fitted perfectly into the autumn land¬ 
scape. Sandy watched her approach with loving 
eyes. On one occasion Uncle Caleb had accused 


104 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


him of spoiling and indulging Sally unreason¬ 
ably, and ventured the statement that she did not 
in the least appreciate all he did for her and took 
it as her right, without thought of return. Sally 
was showing plainly her loyal devotion to the 
brother who had done so much for her. 

Mrs. Hodges just eats up work,” she began, 
tucking herself in beside Sandy. She has gone 
like a cyclone, only leaving cleanliness instead 
of destruction behind her, through the living- 
room and your room and the porch. She has 
partaken largely of bread and butter and tea and 
is now going to set my room to rights. She says 
it isn’t any great shakes to keep Robin Hollow 
clean. It makes me ashamed that I thought it 
hard, but there’s one thing sure,—when she once 
cleans it, I will try to keep it so. At least, it 
won’t get so very dirty again. I don’t know 
enough to know whether she is doing it right, but 
it looks and smells immaculate. She says the 
condition of the lamps is a sin to snakes.” 

“ A what? ” inquired her brother. 

A sin to snakes,” Sally repeated. “ And she 
has been telling me about a naughty child who 
acted Hike Time in the primer.’ I don’t dare 
ask what she means for fear of exposing my 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 105 

ignorance. But I must tell you how she cured 
the late Mr. Hodges of letting her get out of 
fire-wood. 

It seems,” went on Sally, that the very 
worst crime a Vermont husband can commit is 
not keeping his wife provided with plenty of 
wood for cooking. She may feed the pigs and 
milk the cows and take care of the hens, but she 
is not supposed to chop wood, any more than he 
is supposed to wipe dishes for her. Sandy, we 
must never, never let anybody suspect that you 
wipe them for me.” 

We will conceal it like a murder,” agreed 
Sandy. 

Sally sat swinging her feet clad in pretty 
brown stockings and low-heeled strap pumps. 

Well-1,” she continued, Mr. Hodges had a lot 
on his mind and the fire-wood kind of escaped 
his attention. He had to be reminded of it ^most 
every day. It was a busy time on the farm— 
they had a large farm while Pa lived—and there 
were extra men to feed on account of haying. 
One July evening, Mrs. Hodges told him that 
she had only wood enough to cook breakfast and 
he would have to spare a man to chop more for 
dinner. Pa just grunted and when she men- 


106 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


tioned it again in the morning, he acted kind of 
peevish and went off to the field, and no wood 
chopped. 

So Mrs. Hodges made up her mind that Pa 
and Bill, too,—^he was her son—^were going to 
get a lesson they’d never forget, so she proceeded 
to teach it them. 

At twelve, she blew the horn for dinner just 
as usual. She had set the table and put on the 
food. She had cut up a chicken and put it in a 
dish,—not cooked at all, Sandy, but plain raw! ” 
giggled Sally. In another dish were raw pota¬ 
toes fixed ready to fry. The beans were just as 
they came from the vines, and there were two 
large apple-pies, ready to bake. The coffee-pot 
was filled with coffee and cold water. The only 
things on the table fit to eat were radishes and 
bread and butter. 

Pa and Bill and the men came in and they 
stopped in their tracks and stared at the table 
and then they looked at her. She had a little 
speech all ready to make, but she never got a 
chance to say one word. Every man jack of them 
turned tail like cattle before a swarm of bees. 
She heard the first one beginning to chop before 
the last one got through the kitchen door.’’ 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 107 


Pretty snappy work/^ laugked Sandy. 

In less tlian two minutes Bill tore in with 
an armful of kindling, so she went right to work 
and cooked them a fine dinner, and they kept 
chopping till it was ready to eat. She said she 
had never had so much wood ahead before. And 
never again did she have to ask more than once 
for wood. Pa and Bill were so scared by the 
looks of that raw food that they never forgot it. 
That is the way the story went.’’ 

Mrs. Hodges has the brains of a major-gen¬ 
eral,” said the amused Sandy. That was a 
clever lesson and one a man couldn’t resent. She 
has given you a big lift this morning, hasn’t 
she? ” 

I can’t make out whether she really doesn’t 
think it is hard or whether she wants to make me 
think it is easy,” sighed Sally. I feel sure she 
considers me frivolous and ornamental.” 

I have had visitors,” said Sandy, for his sis¬ 
ter had relapsed into dreamy silence. Two 
chipmunks spent an hour scrambling in and out 
of that pile of stones. I coaxed them up on the 
seat beside me with crumbs. If the provisions 
had held out I think they would have eaten from 
my hand.” 


108 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


You must be sure to have plenty next time/^ 
said Sally. Did you see any deer? 

Sandy shook his head. I may have heard 
one in the woods, but I saw nothing. Of course 
it may have been some other animal.’’ 

I wonder what deer eat,” mused Sally. 

Grass, green leaves, and garden stuff. Lily- 
roots, too, I believe. They are sometimes a great 
nuisance to farmers.” 

Thor is picking apples to-day,” volunteered 
Sally after a long silence. “ Did you ever see 
such transparent clouds and such color as in the 
valley down there? Do you suppose we could 
use a barrel of apples? We may have one if we 
want. The rest are going to Rutland, all they 
don’t keep for themselves.” 

Yes, I should think we could get away with a 
barrel. We have managed to destroy a good 
many since we came.” 

We may have Mackintosh Reds or Baldwins. 
Thor recommends the Reds, and Mrs. Ericsson 
admits that they are better eating, but she thinks 
the Baldwins keep fully as well and are just as 
good for cooking.” 

Have the Reds if you prefer.” 

“ I do like them better,” Sally acknowledged. 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 109 


I must go back and see how things are going. 
Mrs. Hodges evidently intends to leave Kobin 
Hollow swept, cleaned, and garnished and I am • 
eternally grateful to Mrs. Luther for finding her 
and to Elsie for bringing her up.’’ 

Make some arrangement to have her come 
one day each week, or two days, if she will. 
Wouldn’t that cover the cleaning and laundry? ” 

It would,” said Sally, and some cooking, 
too, for Elsie says she knows how. But ought 
we to afford it? ” 

‘^We will afford it. This stunt mustn’t take 
too much out of you, and we shall have to send 
out the washing if it isn’t done here. In the 
long run it won’t cost much more. What are 
you paying an hour? ” 

Sally told him and Sandy made a mental cal¬ 
culation. Indeed, we can afford it,” he said 
quickly. And that will be a real lift for you, 
won’t it? ” 

Not only that, but she knows how to do 
everything that needs to be done. I am ordered 
to watch the lamps cleaned and filled when she 
gets to them. She seems to think you will be 
struck with immediate and complete blindness if 
you use them as they are. I must go back and 


no ROBIN HOLLOW 

see about dinner. I didn’t expect to have dinner 
in the middle of the day, but everybody does, so 
• we may as well be in the fashion. Will you come 
home about a quarter to one? ” 

Her brother assented and Sally skipped down 
the path, her bright frock and sweater and un¬ 
covered brown head making a pretty picture as 
she flitted through sunshine and shade. 

At the end of the day’s work, Sandy took Mrs. 
Hodges home in Humping Henry. Her honest 
face beamed with satisfaction in leaving Eobin 
Hollow sparkling as to windows, clean as to 
floors, shaken and spotless as to rugs. The 
kitchen, she admitted to Sally, she had given but 
a lick and a promise ” and it would burden her 
mind until her next visit. But she had found 
time to stir up and pop into the oven a pan of 
delicious-smelling gingerbread, which Sally was 
charged to watch as a cat watches a mouse, lest 
its shining brown surface be marred by a dis- 
flguring scorch. 

With this on her hands, Sally did not leave 
the kitchen until the spicy loaf was transferred 
to safety on the table. Just as she tucked it into 
a tea-towel and deposited the pan in the sink, a 
shout before the house attracted her attention. 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 111 

A truck piled with wood had stopped at Kobin 
Hollow. 

Want to buy some wood? ” asked the driver, 
advancing to the kitchen door. He was an eld¬ 
erly man with a curiously pinched face and a 
mouth like a ruled line. 

^^Why—perhaps,’’ said Sally, coming out on 
the porch. ‘‘We need more than we have. How 
much is it? ” 

“ Fourteen dollars a cord.” 

Sally hesitated a moment. This was a fair 
market price, for she had heard Mr. Luther tell 
her brother as much the evening they were at the 
parsonage. 

“ You won’t do any better and may go further 
and fare worse. Wood is skurce and most folks 
want all they cut for their own use.” 

“ Well-1,” said Sally. “ I wish my brother was 
here, but I guess it will be all right. You may 
leave it and I’ll pay you.” 

“ Gettin’ a bargain,” said the man, and backed 
his truck across to the door of the shed, where 
he dumped the load in an untidy heap. Sally 
had not the least idea of wood measure, but the 
pile did not seem as large on the ground as it 
looked in the truck. 


112 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Is that a whole cord? she asked doubtfully. 

Good measure/^ replied the man, and Sally, 
accustomed to the friendliness of her neighbors, 
brought the household purse and paid the price. 

Don^t you want some more? he asked as 
he pulled from a pocket a wad of filthy bills and 
added those just acquired. I can let you have 
a couple more cords at the same price. Seein^ 
you’re newcomers. I’ll accommodate you, ruther 
than take it to town.” 

There was something about the man’s face and 
voice which Sally did not like. 

‘‘No, I guess not,” she said, still eyeing the 
pile of wood. “ I’ll see what my brother says. 
What is your name and where do you live, in 
case we do want it? ” 

For a second the man hesitated. “ Abner 
Scudder,” he said after the pause. “ You can 
call me up if you’ve got a ’phone. Or just a 
postal to Still River will reach me. Better make 
up your mind to take it and say .the word, be¬ 
cause I may get rid of it while you’re gettin’ 
round to decide.” 

“ No,” said Sally, suddenly recalling that Mr. 
Moffatt had promised to consider the question of 
fuel for Robin Hollow. “ I think this will be 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 113 


all. Anyway, I can’t order it without consulting 
my brother.” 

The man left without arguing but with a 
rather furtive look down the road as he started 
his engine and drove in the opposite direction 
from the village. The noise of his departure 
covered the arrival of the Ericssons’ Ford, with 
Thor, bringing the milk. The first Sally Imew, 
he was beside her. 

Was that Ab Scudder leaving? ” he de¬ 
manded abruptly. 

Yes,” answered Sally. He had a load of 
wood and offered to sell it and I thought it was 
a good chance as long as he had it right here.” 

How much did he charge you? ” 

Sally told him. Isn’t that the market 
price? ” she asked, for something in Thor’s face 
showed disapproval. 

It’s the price for a cord of good hard wood,” 
Thor agreed. Did you say he could bring any 
more? ” 

No,” said Sally. He wanted me to order 
two more cords, but I said I couldn’t without 
consulting Sandy. Is anything wrong with it, 
Thor? ” 

“ Well,” said Thor after a pause, Abner 


114 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Scudder never goes out of his way to do any¬ 
body a good turn. Of course, you can burn that 
wood, Sally, but two-thirds of it is birch and 
pine and soft stuff, all right enough for kindling, 
but no good for a lasting fire. Beech and oak is 
the best hard wood, and there’s precious little 
here and what there is, is small and full of knots 
and crooked as the old skinflint himself! I wish 
I had come ten minutes earlier. Don’t you let 
him dump any more on you.” 

Sally looked so distressed that Thor refrained 
from adding what he very well knew,—that the 
pile was far from being a full cord. 

Will Sandy cut up rough? ” he asked, trou¬ 
bled by her downcast face and dejected attitude. 

Oh, no,” said Sally. He won’t scold me, 
but I am sorry for Mr. Scudder. It must be 
horrid to be that kind of man.” 

“ I guess he enjoys being hateful,” said Thor, 
giving an angry kick to a piece of wood. 

There’s another thing, Sally. When you buy 
wood, you want it cut to length, ready to use in 
the stoves, about twelve inches for the kitchen, 
and eighteen or twenty for the Franklin. This 
will have to be chopped or sawed before you can 
bum it.” 


SOAP AND SUNSHINE 115 


I ought to have known that/’ said Sally peni¬ 
tently. I did know it, only I never stopped to 
think.” 

“We will fix this so you can use it,” said Thor, 
“ Oscar and I, but I would give a good deal if 
I had come in time to say a few words to Ab 
Scudder.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 

Sandy not only didn’t blame his sister for her 
unwise purchase but declared that he would have 
known no better himself. This was not strictly 
true, but served to console Sally, who recovered 
her spirits with his kindly words, and over their 
fireside supper was much comforted by the ap¬ 
pearance of the immaculate living-room and the 
excellence of Mrs. Hodges’ gingerbread. 

It is funny how nice a thing tastes when 
somebody else made it,” she confided. have 
the greatest respect for anybody who can cook 
meat and vegetables and a pudding and get them 
all done at the same time. I had a course in 
domestic science but I never realized that it took 
so much intelligence to plan a simple dinner. I 
must get these dishes out of the way because I 
want to study Uncle Alexander’s map. I wish 
you could go with Elsie and me, but I suppose 
you ought not to.” 

Sandy shook his head. That one walk I took 

116 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


117 


convinced me that I’d better go slow. But I will 
get my own dinner and drink milk in the middle 
of the morning and afternoon, and act just as 
though the boss were at home.” 

“ You’d better,” said Sally severely. If you 
don’t, I shall never leave you alone again.” 

Sandy wiped the dishes for her and heard her 
singing gayly as she put them away. Then she 
came into the living-room and stood on tiptoe to 
look at the map hanging above the spinning- 
wheel. 

I’ll take it down,” said Sandy. There’s no 
sense in stretching our livers out trying to ex¬ 
amine it.” 

They spread the map on the table under the 
lamp for a careful inspection. It was a large- 
" scale government survey chart, to which Uncle 
Alexander had added notes of his own. His in¬ 
dividual trails on Bound Knob, Wildcat and 
Spruce mountains were plainly marked in col¬ 
ored ink,—red, green, yellow, and, strange to say, 
pink. Not only were the lines dotted in the dif¬ 
ferent colors, but the beginning of each was in¬ 
dicated by its name in minute letters, very neatly 
printed. 

This is unworthy of Uncle Alexander,” de- 


118 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


dared Sandy after a close examination. I can 
understand using red, green, and even yellow, 
but my mind balks at the idea of pink. That 
really is bizarre. No man in bis senses would 
either name a trail pink, or blaze it with pink 
paint. It’s incredible. There’s something im- 
proper about it.” 

Why not? ” persisted Sally. “ Pink is a 
lovely color. I am fond of it, and you know you 
like me to wear it.” 

I do like it on you; it belongs to a girl, but 
for Uncle to choose it—why, it simply isn’t prob¬ 
able. I can’t understand it.” 

Well, he did use it, for there’s the trail, 
branching from the green one, marked and 
named, on his very own map.” 

Sandy shook his head. All the same, it was 
odd of the old chap, more than odd. It isn’t a 
thing a man would do, not a man like Uncle 
Alexander. It’s on a par with that flax-wheel in 
the corner, just as incongruous, only the pink 
trail is worse than the wheel.” 

Sally would only laugh. She really did not 
see anything strange in this choice of color and 
Sandy roused himself from the thoughtful mood 
which had overtaken him. 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


119 


Perhaps he marked it pink because of spruce 
gum along it. If you and Elsie take that trail 
to-morrow, notice whether there is a great deal 
of gum. That might account for it,—but I de¬ 
clare, it strikes me as mighty peculiar! ’’ . 

Sandy seemed almost disturbed by this dis¬ 
covery of what might be considered an eccen¬ 
tricity in Uncle Alexander. They carefully 
traced the line dotted in pink. Judging from 
the contours as shown on the map, it led from 
the summit and flank of Round Knob along a 
little plateau from which rose the higher Wild¬ 
cat, and ended on the western side of that moun¬ 
tain. From that spot, continued another trail, 
marked only in pencil, which went to the top of 
Wildcat. 

Which way are you going? ’’ Sandy asked. 

Where Elsie takes me. It is all new to me.’^ 

I suppose it must be safe,’^ observed her 
brother, or Mr. Luther wouldnT let Elsie ex¬ 
plore these hills alone. 

I am sure it is safe,^’ asserted Sally, for 
Mrs. Ericsson told me so. The only time any¬ 
body ever was frightened was when a lion es¬ 
caped from one of the big circuses. It really 
happened. There was a railway wreck this side 


120 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


of Rutland, and a lion and a python got out of 
their cages. The python went into a hen-house 
and ate forty-five, or maybe it was forty-two 
hens,—I forget which.’’ 

Why so particular? Four or five hens more 
or less make no difference to the story.” 

You needn’t be sarcastic. This isn’t my tale; 
I am only telling it as it was told to me. The 
python ate all the hens there were and then it 
curled up.” 

In sleep?” inquired Sandy solemnly. He 
was stretched out in Uncle Alexander’s big chair, 
enjoying the fire visible through the open front 
of the Franklin stove. 

I don’t know about that. It became quiet at 
any rate.” 

^^o wonder after such a glorious gorge.” 

Sandy, I sha’n’t tell you if you aren’t re¬ 
spectful. It stayed in the hen-house till the man 
who owned it came to get the eggs. It seems 
that he sometimes drank.” 

^^Ah, I was waiting for that,” Sandy inter¬ 
rupted dreamily. He saw the snake, ran 
straight to the wife he had abused, begged her 
forgiveness, signed the pledge, and lived happily 
ever after.” 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


121 


NotMng of the kind! ’’ said Sally indig¬ 
nantly. ^^Who is telling this story, anyway? 
He sometimes drank and so he didn’t think the 
snake was real and went in to get the eggs. But 
he couldn’t find any eggs nor any hens, and he 
fell flat over the snake, and then he began to 
think something was wrong. So he shut the 
door and the little window where the hens went 
out to the yard, and told his wife. She had just 
come from the post-office where she heard about 
the wreck and that the python was loose. So 
they notifled the circus people and they came and 
took the snake and paid the man the market price 
for the hens and a reward beside for catching the 
python. You see you didn’t have it straight at 
all! ” 

I apologize,” said Sandy meekly. I won’t 
try any improvisations on the lion. What of 
him?” 

“ The lion was loose for three days. He was 
seen in every back yard in Still Eiver; that is, 
people thought it was the lion if they saw a dog 
or a calf or even a bush moving in the wind. 
Nobody went out after dark and they didn’t let 
the children go to school. Then they found him 
over near Kutland and got him into his cage 


122 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


and very probably be bad never been in tbis 
neighborhood at all.’’ 

Sandy laughed at tbis tame conclusion and a 
long silence fell over the firelit room. Uncle 
Alexander’s map still lay on the table and the 
odd little flax-wheel threw flickering shadows on 
the wall. 

You are sleepy,” said Sally at length. 
^^Why don’t you go to bed? Do, if you like. 
I’ll take a book and a lamp up-stairs and get into 
bed and read a while myself.” 

Sandy made no protest to this suggestion and 
Sally kissed him and went. Her little room under 
the eaves had grown dear, and to-night, fresh 
from Mrs. Hodges’ energetic hands, it seemed 
especially attractive. Sally did not read long. 
Her mind was full of pleasant things, of the 
evening spent with the Luthers, of the infant 
class she and Elsie had enjoyed together the 
previous Sunday, and of the coming picnic on 
Bound Knob. 

The morning dawned clear and crisp, frosty 
and bracing. The trees were losing their glory, 
and showing bare limbs against the sky, but there 
were evergreens sufficient to prevent the land¬ 
scape from looking denuded, and the soberer oaks 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 123 

were flaunting their robes of ashes-of-roses and 
russet. 

Sally’s room was cold. Slipping into wrapper 
and slippers she shut her windows, seized her 
clothes and ran down to the living-room. They 
had discovered that the Are would always keep 
overnight in the big soapstone stove. It was only 
necessary to stoke it well with chunks of hard 
wood before going to bed and, with drafts closed, 
it could be depended upon to be smouldering in 
the morning. Sally dressed in comfort, woke 
Sandy and betook herself to the kitchen. 

Here, she had to build a Are, but coal had 
been ordered and when it came there was every 
prospect to expect that Are also to be alive in the 
morning. It is true that the floors were always 
cold underfoot and that a great deal of air crept 
in around the loose windows, but fresh air was 
important for Sandy, so they meant to dress 
warmly and let it come in. 

They usually breakfasted in the kitchen, for 
eating out of doors at that hour involved too 
many wraps, and too much flickering of the per¬ 
colator lamp. Sally had learned that on no ac¬ 
count would her brother omit his morning shave. 
A covered pail Ailed with water and set over- 


124 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


night on the soapstone stove provided ample 
water for both their toilets, and no more raids 
were made on Sally^s teakettle. It was in high 
spirits this morning that she prepared breakfast, 
spread her pretty blue cloth, set the table with 
Aunt Kuth^s pottery and shining copper perco¬ 
lator, surveyed the effect of halved, oranges upon 
the yellow plates, and completed her satisfaction 
by a vase of late gentians for a centrepiece. 
Sally was naturally capable, and love made her 
both patient and painstaking. 

When Sandy came, the percolator was bub¬ 
bling, the oatmeal, which had simmered all night 
on the living-room stove, was done to a turn and 
appetizing with heavy cream. Slices of toast 
awaited their poached eggs. In truth, Sally had 
learned to make her breakfasts perfect from the 
point of cooking as well as beauty. 

Now, you need not help with the dishes be¬ 
cause you have to get your own dinner,” she 
protested. 

Oh, yes,” Sandy answered, let me wipe 
them and then you will be through before Elsie 
comes. Don’t you have to put up a lunch? ” 

Elsie is going to bring sandwiches for us 
both, and I am to take an orange apiece and 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 125 

some gingerbread. I must get into my knickers 
because she is going to wear bers.’^ 

Sally was only just ready when Elsie came, 
not in the roadster, but descending at the end of 
the lane from a farm truck loaded with apples 
on its way to Rutland. 

Daddy wanted the little car, so I got a lift 
from Jem Moffatt,’’ she explained. “ I can walk 
home, or, if I am tired, I thought one of you 
would drive me down.’’ 

Of course we will,” said Sandy. 

“ I wish you were going, too,” Elsie went on, 
but I am going to lead Sally quite a scramble.” 

Come into the kitchen,” called Sally. See, 
I have left everything ready for Sandy’s dinner. 
What a nice way to carry our lunch! ” 

I brought one for you,” said Elsie, producing 
a second little knapsack made of stout khaki. 
Each fastened securely, had a strap to put across 
one’s shoulder, and weighed almost nothing. 

Here is your packet of sandwiches, and I’ll 
take the rest of my lunch. No, indeed, Sally, not 
a thermos bottle! They belong to automobile 
picnics. Nothing so luxurious to-day. A tin 
cup, tied on with a piece of string. We shall 
find plenty of good water.” 


126 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally set aside the milk intended for the ther¬ 
mos flask. She pulled an old canvas hat over 
her curls, tied one of Uncle Alexander’s despised 
tin cups to a buttonhole of her flannel shirt, 
slipped on the little knapsack and announced 
that she was ready to start. 

They looked like two slender boys as Sandy 
watched them up the path and waved his hand 
at the turn. Elsie was slightly taller, but both 
looked well in flat-soled tramping shoes, heavy 
stockings, and tweed knickers. For a moment he 
heard their happy voices among the spruces, and 
then silence fell upon Robin Hollow. 

^^We take the left-hand path,” said Elsie as 
they reached the big birch. 

This is the trail marked in green on Uncle’s 
map. Yes, there is a green blaze. Before we go 
back to Boston, we mean to go over all his trails 
and mark them again.” 

That will be fun,” Elsie agreed. “ We might 
have brought the paint and brush for this one, 
only it would make us stop so often. We must 
keep an eye out for chestnuts. There used to 
be a great many on Round Knob till the blight 
came.” 

Sally had always loved being out of doors but 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


127 


lier long vacations liad been spent at tbe beach, 
and the autumn woods were a novelty. She ex¬ 
hausted her store of adjectives over the lovely 
coloring, the misty blue vistas of the rolling hills, 
the clouds and the crystal sky. 

Elsie was on familiar and dearly loved ground. 
She knew the few flowers still lingering, could 
name the mushrooms and the ferns, could tell 
from nuts or fruit the bushes and shrubs, and 
the trees by bark and leaves. It was not at all 
from any desire to exhibit superior knowledge, 
but from sheer love of the things themselves that 
she let fall exclamations here and there. The 
more Sally saw of her, the more she compared 
her with girl friends in the city, the more she 
realized that Elsie rang true in every particular. 
And it was difficult to believe as she walked with 
steady step, free and unhampered in her knick¬ 
ers, that she had ever been a helpless invalid. 
To realize that fact gave a big lift to Sally^s own 
heart. 

For some distance the path was distinct and 
quite unencumbered by fallen trees. Nor was it 
especially steep as it wound along the western 
slope of Eound Knob. After an hour^s walking 
the trail became drifted under fallen leaves. 


128 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


rocks cropped out and the way grew more diffi¬ 
cult to follow. 

Elsie did not often hesitate. Once or twice 
she looked for a blaze, and once she stopped en¬ 
tirely as they emerged from the woods into a 
natural clearing. 

The clearing was quite unlike any other terri¬ 
tory they crossed that day. Only a few spruces 
dotted a large expanse that seemed land too poor 
for either forest or pasture. Kocks predomi¬ 
nated, interspersed by low-growing junipers of a 
kind Sally had never before seen. Elsie climbed 
on a stump and took a keen survey of this open¬ 
ing. 

Are you looking for deer? ’’ asked Sally. 

Well, yes, but only incidentally. I want to 
make sure of striking the path on the other side. 
But if we don% it is only walking along the edge 
over there till we find it. There are no blazes 
through this open place.” 

The October sun shone warm on bayberry and 
moss, filling the air with sweetness. Half-way 
across, Sally stopped short. 

‘‘ To think,” said she, that this is always 
here, and that I have spent every autumn in 
Boston, just getting out occasionally to see the 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


129 


fall coloring in the Fenway. And yon have it all 
to play with every year.’’ 

^^Ani I not the lucky girl?” agreed Elsie. 

And Daddy never expects me to study until the 
best weather is over and I can’t be out so much. 
A day like this, when I feel that I must fly to 
the hills, he smiles and tells me to go. And isn’t 
it odd how far away the city seems and of how 
little importance? ” 

I would never have believed that Sandy could 
be contented without a newspaper the first thing 
every morning. When we came, we thought we 
must go to the post-ofiice for every mail. Now, 
we get it once a day, and sometimes not even 
then. Several times lately, we haven’t had the 
paper till a day late and Sandy hasn’t cared at 
all. And once, when we had heard from Aunt 
Ruth and several friends, we didn’t go to the 
office for two days.” 

It always gets like that,” said Elsie. I 
think it is because of living in a spacious place. 
The bigness of everything makes you realize how 
little trifles are.” 

They crossed the sunny, fragrant opening and 
quicldy found the path into the woods. 

Let’s not talk nor make any noise,” whispered 


130 ROBIN HOLLOW 

Elsie, because this is a place we are likely to 
see deer.’’ 

Sally became an Indian in the silence of her 
progress and they were presently encouraged by 
sight of fresh tracks in the soft path, showing 
that deer had passed not long before. Shortly, 
they came to a good-sized brook. 

Elsie did not emerge from the sheltering un¬ 
derbrush until she was satisfied that the deer 
were not near the brook, which followed a stony 
course down a steep slope. It was unusually full 
for the time of year and a considerable stream 
chattered over rocks worn smooth by centuries 
of falling water. 

Time for lunch,” suggested Elsie. We 
have been walking steadily and it is half-past 
twelve.” 

Sally was hungry, and they skipped from 
stone to stone, settling themselves on a big flat 
one in full sunshine in the middle of the brook. 

“ I hope you will have enough lunch,” said 
Elsie as they unslung their knapsacks. ‘‘ After 
I have been on three picnics with you, I shall 
know just how much you need. The Luther 
family has worked out the science of lunches to 
a fine point. When you are going to lie around 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


131 


most of the afternoon, it is all right to take a 
big lunch and have a gorge and then laze till 
time to go home. But on a scientific hike, like 
this one, the method is to have just enough lunch 
to make you feel rested and peppy and yet have 
none left to carry for the rest of the tramp.’’ 

When the lunch was spread on the warm, clean 
rock, Sally really thought it scanty. There were 
three sandwiches apiece, one orange, and a sec¬ 
tion, not too large, of gingerbread. But when 
she began to eat, she found the sandwiches had 
been made with knowledge as to units of energy. 
One was of cottage cheese with a layer of orange 
marmalade, one of scraped roast beef, and the 
third, singularly satisfying, of raisins. To her 
surprise, she felt an astonishing sense of reple¬ 
tion. Gingerbread and orange seemed almost 
superfluous. 

Elsie laughed as she guessed Sally’s thought. 

It didn’t look enough, did it? ” 

It is very odd,” Sally admitted. I suppose 
it is knowing exactly what to put in them. You 
are a magician, Elsie.” 

Oh, Mumsey made these,” replied Elsie, ly¬ 
ing flat in the warm sunshine, Now, let’s rest 
for a while.” 


132 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally wriggled around until she exactly fitted 
her back to the big rock. I never saw such soft 
stones/’ she murmured, but her voice was 
drowned by the sound of the stream. 

Half an hour later she woke to find Elsie no 
longer beside her. Sally sat up and looked 
around. At the other side of the brook, her 
friend was leaning against the bank, looking in¬ 
tently down the slope. Sally looked also and at 
some distance saw two deer drinking from a pool. 
They seemed entirely fearless and left at their 
leisure. 

If the water wasn’t so cold, I would wade,’^ 
said Elsie, but it is pretty chilly for the time 
of year. Shall we go on? ” 

They left the brook, to climb the top of Bound 
Knob, where a magnificent view greeted them, a 
horizon of scarlet and gold summits and in the 
far distance the higher White Hills. Here they 
spent fifteen minutes and then took up the trail. 
At the place where the green blazes became pink, 
Sally mentioned her brother’s opinion of its 
color. 

^‘That’s odd,” said Elsie. Daddy and the 
boys seem to think it was an unearthly thing to 
mark a trail with pink paint. I don’t see why a 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


133 


person shouldn’t do it if he wished. I think he 
just liked the color, but Jack says that only a 
sissy would use it. And from what we have 
heard of Mr. Hopkins, that is the last thing he 
was.” 

The pink trail was not long and ended at a sort 
of quarry or stone heap on the slope of Wildcat. 
Sally was eager to see whether the path indi¬ 
cated on the map in black pencil was marked 
on the mountain. It was, but so indistinctly 
that Elsie depended upon her memory of previous 
tramps. 

One night last July, Jack and Andrew and I 
came up here and slept on the top of Wildcat. 
Mother made us choose a hot day and we almost 
perished before we got up, carrying blankets and 
food, but the night and the stars were worth it 
all. We will do it next summer if you are here, 
but it is too late this fall. If you want to 
find gum, Sally, there are better trees nearer 
home.” 

I don’t want it for myself. Sandy said per¬ 
haps Uncle painted that trail pink because of 
spruce gum along it, but we have seen mostly 
maples since we left Bound Knob. This is the 
first spruce I have noticed for some time.” 


134 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


mused Elsie. I don’t believe that 
theory explains it.” 

In the mid-afternoon the view from Wildcat 
was superb. They looked down upon Bound 
Knob with wonder that they ever thought it high. 
Killington Peak loomed before a background of 
jumbled green and blue summits. 

Let’s rest for half an hour,” said Elsie, “ and 
then we must go back. Isn’t it heavenly here so 
far up in the air? Bo you wonder, Sally, that 
several great men have liked to be buried on 
mountains? Cecil Ehodes in South Africa, and 
Stevenson in Samoa, and Daniel Boone in Ken¬ 
tucky, each on a hilltop open to sun and air 
and looking for miles and miles over the coun¬ 
try? It seems to me that a man whose life was 
spent in big places, doing big things, would rest 
better on a mountain. 

There’s a place I want you to see,” she went 
on, twisting about to survey the horizon. No, 
we can’t see it from here; it is behind that peak, 
but sometime we will go over. We shall have to 
take the car; it is near Mount Holly, too far to 
walk. Daddy and I found it one day when we 
were driving. 

It is a memorial to a young aviator who was 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


135 


killed in action in France. He was a forester, 
just graduated at Yale when we went into the 
war. Over there, on the watershed between the 
Connecticut Valley and Lake Champlain, is a 
big tract of woodland. His mother gave it to the 
Yale School for their field work and it is always 
to be kept as a forest in memory of that boy who 
died in France. Every year, men come from New 
Haven to work with the trees already there and 
to set out quantities of new ones. Dad and I 
walked up the hill and on the ridge is a group of 
evergreens around a big boulder with a simple 
bronze tablet. It is marked: ^ Bowen Memorial 
Forest ’ and below are a few lines with the boy’s 
name and record and the words: ^ It does not 
matter when a man dies, but how.’ ” 

Isn’t that a lovely memorial! ” said Sally im¬ 
pulsively. If he was a forester, he must have 
been crazy over trees and mountains and all out¬ 
doors. Is he buried there? ” 

^^No, in France. Daddy asked a Yale man 
who was working near. He said the line quoted 
on the tablet was from a letter the boy wrote his 
mother. Daddy and I thought it so beautiful for 
her to perpetuate a living forest in his memory. 
We were there on a heavenly day with the sky 


136 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


full of sunshine and racing white clouds, and 
the air so clear you could see miles around, and 
the sunlight fell across the tablet and you could 
look from it to beauty in every direction. Sally, 
the sun is lower than I realized. We must hurry 
back.’’ 

Both girls sprang to their feet and began to 
retrace their steps. As far as the spot where the 
pink trail began, the descent was steep and 
rough, but once there, going would be plain till 
they again reached the clearing above the brook. 

When they came out by the ledge of rocks 
near the first pink blaze, Sally looked around for 
some souvenir to take to Sandy, since gum did 
not appear plentiful. A small stone glittering in 
the sun caught her attention and she hastily 
thrust it into her sweater pocket. 


CHAPTER IX 


OLD LOVE LETTERS 

From Dagmar up to Gramp ’’ tlie whole 
Ericsson family made fun over the apples des¬ 
tined for Robin Hollow. Ever since Sally told 
him that they wanted a barrel of Reds/’ Thor, 
industriously picking fruit, had borne that fact 
very much in mind. When filled, it deserved not 
only the title of hand-picked,” but of “ selected, 
fancy-picked,” as Mr. Ericsson dryly remarked 
after a glance into the barrel. But the inspec¬ 
tion was tempered with a not unkindly smile at 
Thor’s reddening countenance. Elsie likes ap¬ 
ples; better make up another for the Luthers,” 
was all Mr. Ericsson said. 

Thor looked relieved. He had expected direc¬ 
tions to scatter the contents of that barrel among 
a dozen others, any one of which would rate first- 
class in a city market. He grinned sheepishly 
at Gramp’s pointed comment, and tumbled Oscar 
over a pile of baskets for making an ill-advised 

joke, but the barrel, just as he filled it, eventually 

137 


138 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


appeared at Robin Hollow, where Sally ex¬ 
claimed over it in innocent admiration. By 
Thorns advice, it was bestowed in a certain shed, 
where, he told Sally, it would be cool enough and 
yet not freeze. 

It was Thor also, who explained to Sally that 
she really must not make her proposed bonfire 
of the big heap of maple leaves she raked up one 
afternoon. 

Why not? ” she demanded, her face flushed 
with exercise, and her hair blowing in a hundred 
little curls. I have been counting on burning 
these after dark. Sandy will be here and I will 
do it on a still night.^’ 

You mustnT waste the leaves that way,” said 
Thor. They ought to be raked close up around 
the foundations of the house, banked thick 
against it and held in place by boards. It makes 
the cellar a lot warmer.” 

Sally, used to a steam-heated house, looked at 
him in surprise. It was true that there would 
be no fire in the cellar of Robin Hollow. 

She made a funny little face. WTiat you say 
goes,” she conceded, and began to rake her leaves 
toward the rough foundation of the cottage. 

Above all things Thor wanted to stay and help 


OLD LOVE LETTERS 


139 


her, but his father was in Rutland on business, 
and Gramp and Oscar could not milk twenty 
cows alone, much less care properly for the milk 
afterwards. Thor’s duty lay at home, and, being 
a conscientious youth, he tore himself from temp¬ 
tation. 

Sally went on happily raking her leaves. 
Sandy had gone to drive with Mr. Luther, and 
Mrs. Hodges, having accomplished wonders in 
the way of washing and ironing, was capably 
executing a cake and a pie, with a few odd cook¬ 
ies tucked into corners. That meant easy work 
for Sally next day. Indeed, Mrs. Hodges and 
her two regular visits very perceptibly lightened 
all the week’s work. Things were not difficult 
for Sally now in any particular except the fires, 
and when she began to use the stove coal, safely 
stored in the shed, but not to be drawn upon 
till freezing weather, the kitchen stove would 
cease to be a daily problem. She had raked her 
big pile of leaves nearly to the house when a 
truck came laboring down the lane and drove 
into the yard. 

Sally looked in amazement. The driver was 
Abner Scudder with another and somewhat 
larger load of wood. 


140 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Vve brought them two cords of fire-wood you 
ordered/’ he said as he stopped his engine. 

I didn’t order any more. We don’t care to 
buy it.” 

You can’t go back on an order like that,” 
said Mr. Scudder in a bullying way. I told 
you I c’d let you have two more cord at the same 
price and you told me to bring it along.” 

I told you nothing of the kind,” said Sally 
indignantly. I said I could not order it till 
I asked my brother. I did ask him and we don’t 
want it.” 

Can’t get out of it that way,” said Mr. Scud¬ 
der, fiinging the first stick from the load. 

Stop! ” said Sally sharply. I did not order 
that wood and you won’t get one cent for it if you 
leave it.” 

We’ll see about that,” replied Mr. Scudder 
roughly. It will be my word agin yours. I’ll 
see my money all right enough.” 

Don’t you unload another stick,” ordered 
Sally, crossing the yard, rake in hand. 

The third log followed the second, and would 
have been followed by a fourth, had the kitchen 
door not suddenly opened, revealing Mrs. 
Hodges, floury as to face and hands, but fiery as 



9 9 


“Yes, Ab Scudder. You’re seein’ straight. It’s me 

Fa(jc 141. 




























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OLD LOVE LETTERS 141 

to eye. At sight of her, Mr. Scudder dropped 
the log poised ready to throw. 

Yes, Ab Scudder,’’ said Mrs. Hodges, her 
arms akimbo. You’re seein’ straight. It’s me, 
and I’m goin’ to stand just where I be, and see 
this thing through.” 

She ordered it,” growled the man. 

She did not,” returned Mrs. Hodges. 

^‘A contrack is a contrack,” muttered Mr. 
Scudder. She told me to bring it along and 
now I’ve brung it, I’m a-goin’ to leave it.” 

You’re the biggest liar in the township,” re¬ 
torted Mrs. Hodges. You’d better go to church 
and get religion and not be tryin’ to take ad¬ 
vantage of the orphan and the fatherless. As 
for your contrack, Sally’s nuthin’ but a little 
girl, and a contrack with a minor is dull and 
void. You leave that wood if you’ve got the gall, 
but just you remember while you’re a-heavin’ of 
it out, that I’m a-standin’ here, seein’ of you do 
it, a livin’ witness that it’s agin Sally’s orders. 
And if it comes to court, there’ll be two to say 
you’re a liar. As for that fust load you brought, 
it was short a third of a cord, and crooked, 
spindlin’ soft stuff no self-respectin’ woman 
would insult a stove by usin’. Ab Scudder, you 


142 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


set yourself on the seat of that there truck, and 
start that engine and don’t you come back here 
agin. If you Imew as much about your great¬ 
grandmother as I do, you’d quit bein’ such a 
fool! ” 

This last occult remark apparently struck 
terror to the shrunken object that served Mr. 
Scudder for a heart. He jumped down to pick 
up the few sticks already thrown off. 

Leave those lay,” ordered Mrs. Hodges. 

They’ll help a mite toward makin’ out your 
fust cord. Now, don’t you ever show your mean, 
ugly face round here agin, or I’ll know the rea¬ 
son why and I’ll tell it to the whole of Still 
River! ” 

Sally, in her brown skirt and orange sweater, 
struck into a little autumn-colored statue, 
listened in sheer amazement to this astonishing 
dialogue, not even resenting the nuthin’ but a 
little girl.” She was literally petrified with sur¬ 
prise. 

Mr. Scudder obeyed the injunction to leave the 
wood lying where it was. He started his engine 
with a roar, gave the wheel a vicious jerk, and 
departed. 

Goodness! ” exclaimed Sally, as the truck 


OLD LOVE LETTERS 143 

disappeared. I’m everlastingly obliged to you, 
Mrs. Hodges. If you hadn’t been here, he would 
have left it in spite of anything I could do. But 
how did you know what I had told him? ” 

I didn’t,” said Mrs. Hodges grimly. I only 
knew on general principles that he was lyin’. 
Well, that’s a real relief to me. I said some 
things to Ab Scudder that have set heavy on my 
mind for years. I feel a lot better now I’ve done 
it. He won’t trouble you agin; he’s a coward as 
well as a bully and he’ll fight shy of Robin Hol¬ 
low. He thought you were here alone or he’d 
never try that bluff. Meanest man in the town¬ 
ship ! His wife takes in washin’ and that’s how 
he supports himself.” 

With her head still high and a general air of 

\ 

duty done, Mrs. Hodges retreated to the mixing- 
board and her waiting cookies. Sally, suddenly 
sensing the funny side of the situation, subsided 
in a laughing heap among her leaves. 

^ Dull and void,’ ” she thought. “ I must re¬ 
member that to tell Sandy. But it wouldn’t have 
been funny, if Mrs. Hodges hadn’t been here. I 
suppose I should have run as fast as I could for 
Thor or Mr. Ericsson, but probably before either 
could get here, he would have dumped the wood 


144 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


and left, and then made trouble over our paying 
for it. Mrs. Hodges is a brick. Talk about a 
war-horse; she fairly snorted.^^ 

When Sandy came, he laughed over his sister’s 
graphic description of the enemy’s rout, but then 
looked a little sober. 

I don’t like to think that every time I leave 
you here alone you run the chance of an unpleas¬ 
ant encounter like that. I believe we must have 
a telephone.” 

“ It’s true that if we had one I could have 
telephoned for a policeman, if there is such a 
person in Still River.” 

I imagine there is only a sheriff,” said Sandy, 
but you could have called the Ericssons.” 

It isn’t likely to happen again. I know bet¬ 
ter now than to buy anything brought around, 
and Mr. Scudder will never show himself. He 
turned blue with fright when Mrs. Hodges burst 
out of the kitchen door.” 

‘‘We will apply for a telephone,” Sandy re¬ 
peated. “ It will be useful in many ways and 
then you and Elsie can talk night and morning 
in addition to seeing each other every day.” 

“ It is such fun studying with Elsie,” said 
Sally contentedly. “ Mr. Luther makes every- 


OLD LOVE LETTERS 


145 


thing so interesting. Isn’t it lucky that she and 
I were both doing Vergil? I think I translate 
French as well as she does, but she speaks it 
better and she is ahead of me in English litera¬ 
ture. I love the way Mr. Luther does things. 
To-day he told us about the different forms of 
poetry. He wants us each to write a sonnet for 
him. Elsie says that he understands Spanish, 
and we are begging him to teach us. He said 
if we did very well in French till Christmas, he 
would think about it.” 

Mr. Luther wants me to tutor Thor in mathe¬ 
matics. Thor needs help and Mr. Luther doesn’t 
like teaching that.” 

I know,” Sally laughed. Elsie told me that 
he didn’t like figures and so she always tried to 
make him forget that she ought to study alge¬ 
bra.” 

I think you will have to do a little along 
with Thor,” said Sandy. You will need mathe¬ 
matics for the college exams, you know, and even 
though you hate algebra, it won’t hurt you.” 

Thor is ahead of me,” protested Sally. He 
wants to do geometry this winter and says the 
teacher at Rockville High is no good.” 

“ I shall enjoy tutoring Thor,” said Sandy 


146 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


musingly. It is always fun to work with, any 
one who really wants to learn.’’ 

Take him and let me off,” coaxed Sally. 

How will you feel when you flunk the college 
entrance in algebra? ” 

Sally shook her head, flopping a curly braid 
over her shoulder. In Boston, Sally’s hair had 
appeared in the latest style of puffs and waves. 
In Still River, finding Elsie’s fair hair in a fat 
braid, Sally suddenly discarded hairpins and be¬ 
came a little girl again, somewhat to her broth¬ 
er’s amusement, and whollv to his satisfaction. 

Well, I’ll try,” said Sally dubiously, for 
Sandy always lost patience with her over figures 
and equations. She really was not so stupid as 
she thought herself and it was only a matter of 
getting interested in the subject. 

The next day was a wet and chilly Sunday, 
with a southeast storm which blotted out the 
hills, brought down swirls of sodden leaves and 
beat straight across the piazza of Robin Hollow. 
Sitting outside was impossible for Sandy, except 
on the comparatively sheltered sleeping-porch, 
and for the first time he seemed restless. Pres¬ 
ently he returned to the front room. 

It is no use for me to go to Sunday school,” 


OLD LOVE LETTERS 


147 


observed Sally, plastering her nose against the 
pane. It is too wet for the babies to be out. 
Elsie won’t expect me.” 

No, there won’t be many children in a storm 
like this,” said Sandy, getting out his little port¬ 
able typewriter, and settling himself by the open 
west window. Sally wondered whether he in¬ 
tended to write letters or to work on a story or 
something for the paper, but forgot to ask in the 
recollection that she must write to Aunt Euth. 

She opened Uncle Alexander’s old desk and 
sat down with pen and paper to give her aunt a 
detailed account of the week at Robin Hollow. 
Her letter was happy, for though Sally had mo¬ 
ments of depression over a failure in cooking or 
an especially cold morning, she had made con¬ 
genial friends and Sandy was undoubtedly gain¬ 
ing. 

Presently she gave a little gasp as a drop fell 
from a pen poised too long. She glanced hastily 
into the pigeonholes of the old desk, in hopes of 
blotting-paper. 

Seeing the edge of a battered sheet, she pulled 
it out, bringing with it a small note-book and a 
package of papers tied with ribbon once pink. 
Sally pushed them aside and blotted her page. 


148 ROBIN HOLLOW 

Not until her letter was finished did she give at¬ 
tention to the articles fallen from place. 

Sandy, busy putting into words his impres¬ 
sions of the apple-harvesting and the world of 
autumn mountains, was presently interrupted by 
a question from his sister. 

Do you think it is all right for me to look at 
things in this old desk? Kead this bunch of let¬ 
ters, for instance? ’’ 

Yes, if you want to,’’ Sandy answered with¬ 
out consideration. I suppose that secretary 
ought to be overhauled.” 

Sally got up, replenished the fire and untied 
the faded ribbon. The letters, written in a girl’s 
penmanship, fell into her lap. 

Half an hour later, Sandy set aside his type¬ 
writer and became conscious that Sally sat star¬ 
ing idly into the fire with an unusually thought¬ 
ful expression and the letters clasped in quiet 
hands. 

Well, are they from one of Uncle’s old 
flames? ” he asked. 

Yes,” said Sally soberly. “ I haven’t read 
many,—only three. Aunt Kuth wrote them.” 

“ Quaking Jehoshaphat! ” exclaimed her 
brother, really startled. 


OLD LOVE LETTERS 


149 


“ She did/^ repeated Sally. “ She was the girl 
for whom he cared so much that he never mar¬ 
ried. Sandy, I can’t see why she chose Uncle 
Caleb.” 

No more do I. Well, that is news. But, 
Sally, we must never let Aunt Ruth know we 
found those.” 

“ I think we had better burn them,” said Sally 
with so much feeling in her voice that Sandy 
understood she had happened upon much more 
than a passing flirtation. She wouldn’t like to 
know I looked at them. I don’t believe she would 
care to have them back. She probably doesn’t 
dream that Uncle Alexander kept them all these 
years. Don’t you think I had better put them 
into the Are? ” 

Sandy thought for a moment. I suppose it 
might be wise,” he answered after the pause. 

One by one Sally laid the faded yellow letters 
on the logs burning brisldy in the open stove. 
Each, for a second, burst into a little pyramid of 
glowing flame, a tiny funeral pyre for the sem¬ 
blance of a love that had treasured them for 
forty years. 

“ What is that note-book? ” asked Sandy, more 
to change the sober current of his sister’s 


150 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


thoughts than because he felt any real curiosity 
in regard to the book. 

Sally gave it a glance. A memorandum of 
some kind. Figures and dates. Here, you look 
at it, while I see about dinner.’’ 


CHAPTER X 


UNCLE ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 

Without much interest,* Sandy looked at the 
little note-book. Of vest-pocket size, it might be 
for either accounts or a diary, but a brief ex¬ 
amination showed it was neither. Dated entries 
formed the only resemblance. 

Turning the pages idly, Sandy read an item 
here and there, none of which conveyed any 
meaning. 

May 16. Red. None. 

May 20. Green. 2. poor. 

May 22. R. 4. Med. 

May 27. R. 1. 

May 29. Pink. No result. 

This last entry arrested Sandy’s attention. 
Unless Uncle Alexander had an obsession con¬ 
cerning that especial color, and perhaps he did 
—for the faded ribbon around the old love-letters 
had once been pink—that note must have some 
definite meaning. Sandy put his mind upon the 
entries. 


161 


152 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


None varied much. Sometimes the words,^ red, 
pink, green were written, sometimes only the 
initial used. Each record bore a date; most in¬ 
cluded a number, usually small, though one was 
44, followed by an exclamation point. Occa¬ 
sionally a brief comment appeared, such as No 
luck.’^ 

About the middle of the book an entry showed 
the word yellow, and the initial Y began to 
figure, though infrequently. Here and there, at 
the end of the line, following the figures, ap¬ 
peared a single letter, sometimes more than one. 
Sandy selected for special study an entry of 
this type. 

July 6. Pink. Unusual. 21. 1 g. 

Try as he might, Sandy could read no mean¬ 
ing. The only thing plain was that the dates 
covered about three consecutive years and in¬ 
cluded dates from early April through Novem¬ 
ber. Very rarely did an entry appear during the 
severest weather. 

This is hardly a record of birds or flowers,^’ 
thought Sandy. ^^With either he would have 
been more explicit, have written them down by 
name. It is a regular Chinese puzzle.” 


ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 153 


Dinner is ready/^ called Sally. 

Her brother was about to lay aside the book 
when two notes on the inner cover caught his 
eye. 

Here is something I can translate. These 
are chemical formulas.” 

Scribbled in pencil the memorandum was per¬ 
fectly legible. 

Cag Fe 2 Sis O12 

(A1 F)2 Si O, 

“ Calcium, iron, silicon, oxygen,” Sandy read 
the first. ^^What is the second? Aluminum, 
fluorine, silicon, oxygen. What substances do 
those combinations make? That is more than I 
can remember. Could Uncle have been making 
chemical experiments? ” 

Come on,” called Sally. Things are get¬ 
ting cold.” 

Sandy threw aside the book and went to wash 
his hands, wondering whether the formulas on 
the cover had any connection with the dated en¬ 
tries. 

That afternoon the rain fell even harder. 
Solid sheets of water drove across the yard and, 
at times, it seemed as though all Kobin Hollow 
were buried in a cloud. 


154 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sandy rolled himself in blankets and tried his 
outdoor bed. Sally put on a heavy coat and 
came to read aloud, for they had started Bleak 
House,but the uproar of rain on the roof soon 
tired her voice. 

She laid aside her book and went to encourage 
the sitting-room fire. Personally, she thought 
the porch too damp for her brother on such a 
day, but Sandy was not coughing so perhaps it 
was all right. She would be sure that the sitting- 
room was warm when he did choose to come in. 

She swept the hearth and brought a lamp just 
as a figure crossed the yard and entered the back 
door. Sally peeped into the kitchen to see Thor, 
shaking himself free from an exceedingly wet 
raincoat. 

Oh, I am glad to see you! ’’ Sally exclaimed. 

Take off your rubber boots and I’ll bring you 
Sandy’s slippers.” 

She flashed into her brother’s room and re¬ 
ported the visitor to Sandy. 

I didn’t mean to stop,” said Thor as she 
came back with the slippers. Sorry to make 
so much trouble.” 

But I’m so glad to see you,” protested Sally. 

I was bored almost to tears. I was just about 


ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 155 


to go to bed for lack of anything more interesting 
to do.’’ 

Here is something to entertain you,” said 
Thor, producing a covered market-basket. 

For me? ” asked Sally, lifting the lid. Her 
shriek of delight brought Sandy, smiling, to the 
door. 

Oh, the lamb! ” cried Sally. Oh, Thor, 
what a darling kitten! Where did you get it? ” 

They had three down at Maple Farm and 
didn’t want to keep them. I said I thought I 
could find a home for one.” 

You certainly guessed right,” said Sandy, 
laughing at the way Sally was Idssing the little 
Maltese pussy. 

Thank you a thousand times! ” she stopped 
to exclaim. Isn’t it prettily marked, with four 
white stockings, and such a neat white vest? 
Sandy, isn’t it sweet? ” 

The kitten, after gazing inquiringly into 
Sally’s face with round blue eyes, put out a wee 
white paw and patted her cheek. 

That settles it! ” laughed Sandy. “ By the 
end of a week that kitten will be boss of Robin 
Hollow. Come into the other room, Thor.” 

Ma said I’d better fetch along some pop- 


156 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


corn, for she didn’t believe you had any, and it’s 
nice on a wet Sunday.” 

It is the very thing I wanted,” Sally assured 
him as he placed a big paper bag on the table. 

How did you ever bring it without getting it 
soaked? ” 

Had it under my coat,” Thor replied, pleased 
with her pleasure. 

Come on into the other room,” Sally com¬ 
manded, skipping ahead with the kitten tucked 
under her chin. Sweet lamb! What does it 
eat, Thor? ” 

Milk when it’s so little. Later you can give 
it scraps from the table. It can lap warm milk 
all right. One of our cats likes raw eggs.” 

Mercy! this mite would burst if it ate a whole 
egg. I shall name it Rikki-Tikki.” 

For Kipling’s mongoose?” asked Thor, sur¬ 
prising both his hearers, not for the first time, 
by some unexpected bit of information. 

Sit down here by the fire, Thor,” said Sandy. 

Where did you come across the ^ Jungle 
Book’?” 

^^Oh, years ago. I’d like to see it again. 
There was a man once who spent two or three 
summers in Still River. He gave the town some 


ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 157 

books. They were kept in a room in the town 
hall and it used to be open so people could bor¬ 
row them. Lizzie Kmight had charge. Then she 
died, and one thing and another happened, and 
there wasnT anybody who wanted to go there 
Saturday afternoons and bother about the books. 
I wasnT very big, but I was sorry when they 
shut the place, for that’s where I got the ^ Jungle 
Books ’ and ^ Kobinson Crusoe ’ and ^ Hans 
Brinker ’ and some more stories.” 

^^Are the books still there?” Sandy asked, 
much interested. 

So far as I know. I guess people sort of 
forgot about them. I was wishing the other day 
that Oscar and Dagmar could have those stories 
to read. Father does buy some books, but if you 
like ’em you can’t get enough and keep wanting 
more, and there’s lots of ways to spend money 
on a farm.” 

How many were there? ” 

Oh, perhaps a thousand, maybe more,” was 
Thor’s astonishing reply. It’s quite a big room 
and the books went around all four sides except 
the windows and the door.” 

Would it be possible to have the room opened 
and let people borrow them again? ” Sandy pur- 


158 ROBIN HOLLOW 

sued. “ It is a shame to think of their doing no 
one any good.’’ 

I guess the selectmen would be willing,” 
Thor replied, ^^if it didn’t cost the town any¬ 
thing. That was the trouble,—they couldn’t get 
anybody to tend to the books without having to 
pay.” 

Well,” said Sandy, we will see about that. 
If the selectmen will let us, some of you young 
people, you and Elsie and Sally and some of the 
others, might be willing to take turns giving out 
the books. I can’t make too many promises for 
myself, but I will do what I can toward setting 
that library on its feet. If it was just the ex¬ 
pense of an attendant, I think that might be 
managed.” 

Thor’s spirited face was glowing with interest 
and pleasure over this proposal. 

That would be no end great! ” he said ex¬ 
pressively. I’d be glad to do my share. I sup¬ 
pose it would cost something to heat the place 
even if it was open only one or two afternoons 
a week. But I think people would go shares on 
fuel,—^men with families who would like the 
books. Father would give some wood, and so 
would Hendrik Damon and one or two others.” 


ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 159 


I’d adore to lielp/’ said Sally, wlio was lov¬ 
ingly cuddling Eildvi-Tikki. So would Elsie. 
Does she know about the books? She never men¬ 
tioned them.’’ 

I don’t know,” Thor replied. Likely not, 
because the Luthers haven’t been here so very 
long, and the library was shut the year after 
your Uncle Alexander died. If he had lived, I 
don’t believe it would have been closed. He liked 
books so much.” 

Thor ended with a glance at the well-filled 
cases about them. 

You are welcome to borrow any of Uncle’s 
books,” said Sandy cordially. 

Thanks,” said Thor gruffly, but his face 
showed pleasure. I used to think of these 
books in the years Kobin Hollow was shut up. 
Sometimes I planned that if I knew who owned 
them, I’d write and ask if I could have some to 
read.” 

Thor, you make me feel a pig,” said Sandy 
ruefully. If I had known there were any books 
here, and a boy near by who wanted them, I’d 
have seen that the combination was made. 
There’s a copy of the ^ Jungle Book ’ in that case, 
and you shall take it with you and anything else 


160 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


you think you would like to read. But who are 
the selectmen? ’’ 

Joshua Moffatt and John Mann and Heman 
Foster. I guess Joshua would be the best one to 
ask.” 

The books will be dusty and need attention. 
What kind were they? ” 

“ All kinds, I guess. Of course I was just a 
little chap and took the children’s books, but I 
am sure there were histories and some travels.” 

I believe the best thing will be to talk with 
Mr. Moffatt. He will know how the selectmen 
feel, but if we can plan it, we will have that col¬ 
lection of books so the town can use them again.” 

Sally arose, deposited Kikki-Tikki on her 
brother’s knee and disappeared in the kitchen. 
Presently she came back with a saucer of warm 
milk. 

Rikki greeted it with pleasure. Having eaten, 
he uttered a far-off, remote little cry. 

Goodness! what a funny mew! ” laughed 
Sally. Hitty, you shall have some more.” 

He can’t eat more,” said Thor. Probably 
he misses his mother and the other kittens.” 

Entertain him, Sally. Divert his attention,” 
Sandy advised gravely. 


ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 161 


Sally produced a spool of thread and offered 
it to Rikki, who gave it an experimental bat. 
His ridiculous leaps as he chased it about the 
floor made them all laugh. 

Thor/’ said Sally, is there any way to pop 
corn without a popper? Uncle doesn’t seem to 
have had one. At least, I can’t And any.” 

Why, yes,” said Thor promptly. You can 
pop it in a kettle. Is there a Are in the kitchen? ” 

Yes, a good one.” 

I’ll show you how,” said Thor. 

Sandy remained for a time, plajdng with the 
kitten, but presently followed them to the 
kitchen. They had shelled the corn and Thor 
was placing over the Are the black kettle so de¬ 
spised by Sally. 

“ Have you some grease? ” he asked. 

Will Crisco do? ” 

Fine. A good tablespoonful,—a little more 
than that.” 

When the grease was melted, Thor dumped in 
a large cupful of corn. That will All the ket¬ 
tle,” he remarked. Now, a long-handled spoon, 
please.” 

Placing the kettle over the Are, he began to 
stir the corn, slowly at flrst and then faster. 


162 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


With the first bursting kernels he withdrew the 
spoon, clapped on the cover and waited results. 

Sounds like a machine-gun,” commented 
Sandy. 

Thor lifted the kettle from the fire. Holding 
the lid in place he shook it vigorously, then re¬ 
placed it over the flames for a few seconds. 

It burns rather easy,” he explained. I 
guess I^d better take it off now.” 

Sally held a big bowl for the mass of fluffy 
white kernels. Hardly a dozen had failed to pop. 

Is that enough? ” Thor asked. We can pop 
another kettleful.” 

It’s enough for now. Thank you. Let’s take 
it into the other room before the fire. Mercy! 
Is that Rikki-Tikki? He has a mew as big as a 
meeting-house.” 

Both boys smiled at Sally’s simile, but there 
was no question of the penetrating quality of 
Rikki’s vocal organs. Thor carried the bowl of 
corn into the front room and Sandy brought 
saucers and the salt-cellar. 

Rikki-Tikki was soothed by the reappearance 
of his family and delighted Sally by promptly 
trying to climb into her lap. 

Thor and Sandy ate popcorn and discussed 


ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 163 


mathematics. There had been a change in teach¬ 
ers at the Eockville High School, one not at all 
to Thor’s liking. 

The rest don’t seem to mind,” he admitted. 

They say I am a freak and I suppose I am, but 
I really want to learn things, not just have a 
good time fooling. Mr. Jenks is great in Latin 
and makes that interesting, but I don’t think he 
knows much about algebra and there isn’t going 
to be any class in geometry.” 

It was finally decided that Thor should come 
to Robin Hollow three evenings a week. Sandy 
would help him with advanced algebra and with 
geometry. 

Sally listened in silence and with a secret 
hope that Thor would be so far in advance of her 
that she would not have to come into the class 
at all. 

All right,” concluded Sandy. Come to¬ 
morrow evening, as early as you can. We will 
set Sally a few simple problems while we are 
doing the others.” 

I hoped you had forgotten me,” said Sally 
sweetly. ‘^Too bad, Thor. I shall keep you 
back, for I am dreadfully stupid about figures.” 

Thor muttered something in which the word 


164 ROBIN HOLLOW 

impossible ’’ was audible. Sandy suppressed 
a smile, but not a thought. 

Sally certainly has Thor reduced to pulp,’^ 
was his unspoken comment. And she hasn’t 
meant to vamp him, either; it’s just her natural 
friendliness.” 

I’ll set Sally a few easy sums in addition,” 
he said aloud, and caught skilfully the kernel of 
corn she threw at him. Must you go, Thor? 
You have made a pleasant break in this stormy 
day. Oh, here’s the ^ Jungle Book,’ and what 
else do you want? Sally, could we have some 
paper to wrap these books? ” 

Isn’t he a nice boy? ” said Sally as Thor 
went out into the tempestuous darkness with the 
Jungle Book ” and David Copperfield ” safely 
protected by both paper and coat. 

Indeed, he is. He’s worth fifty of the aver¬ 
age lazy chaps of his age, fellows with no ambi¬ 
tion beyond owning a fast car and going to a 
dance six nights a week. It isn’t the worst fate 
in the world not to have things too soft when 
you are young. Of course Thor is lucky because 
his parents want him to have an education and 
will help him get it. But Thor has all the es¬ 
sential things in life, and there is a lot in not 


ALEXANDER’S NOTE-BOOK 165 


being too far removed from the soil. From Vay 
back his people have been farmers, only each 
generation more prosperous. Thor’s father is an 
intelligent man. Thor himself may go into busi¬ 
ness or politics, but in the end, I should not be 
surprised if he came back to the farm and put 
into it what he gains from a college education.” 

I never saw a boy who was so fierce on learn¬ 
ing things,” commented Sally. He fairly eats 
up information.” 

If he keeps on, we may see him a great states¬ 
man some day,” said Sandy lightly. ^‘And in 
that hour, we may be proud to remember we 
knew him when he was only a boy on a farm.” 


I 


CHAPTEK XI 


SANDY SEES A SELECTMAN 

After two days of storm, tlie sun smiled upon 
a soaked and sodden world, and trees almost de¬ 
nuded of leaves, with color washed from what 
few remained. Only the evergreens looked 
fresher from the long downpour. Skies were 
bluer than ever, clouds whiter, and a south wind 
tempered the crispness of the season. The moun¬ 
tain ranges seemed strangely near. 

Sally blew a kiss to Killington Peak as she 
swept from the piazza the debris cast upon it by 
the storm. Lovely blue thing! she said. It 
looks as though I could step across to you.” 

Sandy would sit out all the morning, so mild 
was the air and so warm the sunshine. Sally 
put up the hammock and brushed the birch table 
in readiness for books, papers, or the little 
Corona. 

Her lessons with Elsie and Mr. Luther were 

an afternoon affair, so planned by careful 

thought. She could not get down early in the 

166 


A SELECTMAN 


167 


morning because of her household duties, and 
though Sandy was willing to get his own dinner, 
Sally did not think it right for this to become a 
daily arrangement. Elsie was glad to postpone 
lesson hours to the later part of the day and Mr. 
Luther wanted only Elsie^s pleasure. 

Sometimes Sally took Humping Henry, but the 
distance to the parsonage was only a mile,— 
nothing at all to Sally’s skipping feet in these 
glorious autumn days, so she usually walked 
both ways. If an unexpected parcel-post pack¬ 
age appeared in the mail, she was sure to get a 
lift as far as Ericsson’s where the road turned 
in to Kobin Hollow. 

I think I will go down and talk with Joshua 
Moffatt about those books,” Sandy suggested as 
he was helping with the dinner dishes. I will 
take Henry, and plan the time so as to pick you 
up at the parsonage when you get through.” 

That will be nice,” Sally agreed. Leave 
Eikki in the house, won’t you? ” 

Of course. Kikki must not be out after sun¬ 
down. No dew may fall on his precious head.” 

He’s a sweet kit—^he is,” Sally defended her 
pet. He really is too young and tender to be 
out alone. A hawk or a weasel might carry him 


168 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


off. I saw a mink out by the stone wall. I knew 
it at once, for it was just the size of a neck-piece.’^ 
Yes, I have seen several, or the same mink 
several times, but I knew it from its shape and 
color as well as its size.” 

Oh, well, you would,” said Sally gayly. “ I 
wish I could train a live one to lie around my 
■ neck and let me wear it in cold weather.” 

Train Rikki-Tik. You are likely to have 
more success.” 

Sally put away the last pretty blue dish, col¬ 
lected her books and dropped a kiss on Sandy’s 
hair. Don’t forget your milk at three,” she 
said. 

Her brother watched her flit down the lane. 
Sally usually walked with a little lilt,—a lagging 
step meant depression. Then he turned to his 
books. Time did not hang heavy on his hands, 
despite his enforced inactivity. Naturally of a 
philosophical cast of mind, he was willing to 
make the best of an inevitable situation and was 
cheered by the conviction that his stay at Robin 
Hollow had already done him good. 

Magazines and books came in a steady stream 
from friends on the Boston paper, considerable 
reviewing had been sent him and he was having 


A SELECTMAN 169 

time to write on his own account. He could al¬ 
ways fall back on Uncle Alexander's old-fash¬ 
ioned, but really good library, and there was a 
fresh interest in the mathematical work with 
Thor. 

As yet there had been but one lesson, but that 
was sufficient to convince Sally once and for¬ 
ever that she was simply not in it ’’ with Thor. 
The way he would look at an equation or an 
angle and grasp at once its relation to the rest 
of the problem, dismayed Sally and delighted 
Sandy. WTien the evening ended, by dint of keep¬ 
ing still and by degrees withdrawing herself to 
the extreme radius of the table, Sally had suc¬ 
ceeded in diverting Sandy^s attention entirely to 
Thor, not as difficult a matter as she flattered 
herself, for Sandy was so thoroughly interested 
that he completely forgot his sister. When he 
did realize her presence, it was with conviction 
that his two pupils could never be taught in 
combination. Sally should have her lesson but 
at another hour. The evening one should be 
Thor’s alone. 

With a sigh Sally consented to this arrange¬ 
ment, for she genuinely disliked arithmetic and 
was never convinced by any explanations about 


170 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


the vital importance of being able to keep an ac¬ 
count straight, or knowing Avhen she was cheated. 

If yon have just so much money to spend and 
spend it all, it comes to the same thing in the 
end,’^ she declared, and then sat looking as sweet 
as possible through the lecture this remark 
brought on her head. She thought it rather 
good for Sandy to get stirred up about something 
occasionally, for she appreciated the pathos of 
his patient cheerfulness. Still, she recognized 
the force of his arguments, though she had no 
intention of admitting them, and acquitted her¬ 
self creditably during an algebra lesson when 
Thor was not present to overshadow her. 

As Sally vanished down the lane, Sandy 
thought of this lesson with a smile. He knew 
she wasn’t as stupid as she pretended, and that 
she was perfectly capable of doing the work for 
the college examinations. All the same, he would 
not protest if she did no more than the amount of 
mathematics required at Wellesley. He himself 
thought that Sally had a decided gift for lan¬ 
guages and might very well major along that 
line. 

About half-past three he fished Eikki, limp 
and purring, from his nap under a sunny group 


A SELECTMAN 


171 


of late chrysanthemuins, put him into his box be¬ 
side the stove, fastened the doors of the cottage, 
more from force of city habit than from any 
real need, took Humping Henry and started for 
Still Kiver. 

Mr. Moffatt was at work in his barn and ap¬ 
peared quite ready to stop the clattering corn- 
sheller for a chat. 

“ Books? he repeated as Sandy explained his 
errand. Why, yes, now I think of it, I suppose 
them books are still in that back room. Haven’t 
thought of ’em for years except to wish the room 
was clear so it could be used for somethin’ else. 
Do you think anybody would read ’em if you dig 
’em out? ” 

I am sure they would,” said Sandy. The 
Ericssons would, for Thor told me of his wish 
about them. There are children in the village 
school who would be delighted to get at them. 
Probably the teachers would find them useful. 
It’s just possible you might yourself come on 
something of interest.” 

Books never came much in my line,” said 
the postmaster gravely. ’Bout all I can get 
through is the evenin’ paper. But them books 
belongs to the town and if the town wants to 


172 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


read ’em and it ain’t goin’ to cost too much, cash, 
I dunno as anybody would object. I wouldn’t 
if the other selectmen don’t.” 

Well, I knew you would feel that way,” said 
Sandy in his pleasant voice. When people like 
books and care for them, it means a lot to be able 
to get them, you know.” 

Dreadful time-wasters,” commented Mr. 
Molfatt. But, still, there’s Thor. He hasn’t a 
lazy bone in his body and he swings his share of 
the farm work and yet, if he gets a book, they 
can’t hardly pry him loose. His mother says he’s 
deaf and blind when his head is stuck in one. 
But I will say that they don’t seem to give him 
any airs nor do him any harm that you can put 
a finger on. What would be your idee about that 
lot down in the town hall? ” 

I thought perhaps we could look at them and 
see just what is there. Sally spoke to Elsie 
Luther about them and she is interested and so 
is her father. Thor wants to help. We think we 
can find volunteers enough to put the room and 
shelves in order,—sort of house-cleaning, you 
know,—and then the young people could take 
turns being there Saturday afternoons, and any¬ 
body who wanted could come and borrow the 


A SELECTMAN 


173 


books as they used to do. Don’t you think your¬ 
self that it’s a pity for them to lie there with 
nobody getting the good of them?” 

This canny argument appealed to Mr. Moffatt’s 
New England thrift. Doesn’t look like gettin’ 
much interest on an investment,” he admitted. 

Sandy pursued his advantage. And since the 
principal was a gift in the beginning, the town 
surely isn’t getting much profit from it.” 

That’s so,” admitted the postmaster. “ Well, 
I can’t see any objection to the young folks 
gettin’ busy if they like. They understand, don’t 
they, that the town can’t pay for running 
things? ” 

Yes, they understand that. They won’t ask 
anything beyond some heat in the place on the 
afternoons when it is open. That isn’t unreason¬ 
able, is it? ” 

Well, no,” admitted Mr. Moffatt after due 
reflection. Of course wood’s high, but I guess 
it could be managed if folks want the place open. 
Guess you’d better speak to John and Heman, 
Look well to consult all the board before you go 
ahead.” 

How would you feel about speaking to 
them?” asked Sandy. ^^You know them so 


174 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


much better/’ he added diplomatically. You 
would know just how to put it to them. I have 
met both Mr. Mann and Mr. Foster, but of course 
I am just a newcomer to them.” 

I dunno but I’d be willin’ to speak/’ replied 
Mr. Moffatt after his usual pause for thought. 

Come to think on it, I dunno but my little 
Em’ly would like to get at some of them books 
and so might Jem. I remember now that Johnny 
used to fetch them home when he was a little 
chap. He read one out loud once to his mother 
and me. It was a fool story about a man who 
went to a country where there was nothin’ but 
little bits of people, and then to a country popu¬ 
lated by giants. Johnny liked that part of the 
book, but the next yarn—and I tell you, that 
book was some lie—^was about his goin’ to a 
country where the horses ruled and were wiser 
than men. Johnny, he read about two dozen 
pages and then stopped. I was sort of inter¬ 
ested because the writer had made them horses 
kinder convincin’, but Johnny had enough. He 
threw the book down and said he didn’t want to 
read no book where horses acted like that! 

“ He never did finish it,” Mr. Moffatt went on 
thoughtfully. I read some more just to see 


A SELECTMAN 


175 


how them horses come out in the end, but Johnny 
wouldn^t have nothin^ more to do with it. It 
was all a lie from start to finish, but all the 
same it was sort of interestin^’^ 

I shouldn’t be surprised if you’d like to see 
that book again yourself,” said Sandy, inwardly 
much amused by this comment, more subtle than 
its maker realized. 

I dunno but I would,” was Mr. Moffatt’s un¬ 
expected assent. Now you remind me of it, I’d 
kinder like to lay eyes on that yarn. I’ll speak 
to John and Heman, and I’ll speak soon. 
They’ll likely be down for mail to-day. And 
there, I must quit talkin’ and get the bag ready 
for the south train.” 

Sandy left the postmaster and started Hump¬ 
ing Henry, well satisfied with his talk. Mr. 
Moffatt was the most influential of the three se¬ 
lectmen. Sandy had no doubt that he would 
keep his word and that there would be little or 
no opposition to the opening of Still Elver’s 
long-closed public library. 

Of course,” he thought as he glanced at his 
watch and drove toward the parsonage, there 
ought to be new books added, but quite a number 
of those the JStar sends me to review are books I 


176 ROBIN HOLLOW 

don^t care to own. I can turn them over. There 
must be some on radio and some on scientific 
farming and poultry and milk production. I will 
write the literary editor about this proposition 
and he will help me put some pep into the place. 
It will be worth doing if nobody but Thor and 
the younger children use it. But I’ll wager Sally 
a pound of candy that one of the first borrowers 
will be Joshua Moffatt for ^ Gulliver’s Travels.’ ” 


CHAPTER XII 


A VISITOR AT ROBIN HOLLOW 

Sandy’s report of his interview excited Sally 
and Elsie. They at once began to speculate on 
how long it would take Mr. Moffatt to see the 
other selectmen, to give them the key of the 
long-locked room and permission to go ahead. 

You will have to be patient for a little,” said 
Mrs. Luther, who had already talked with Sandy 
while he waited before the open fire in the pleas¬ 
ant living-room of the parsonage, for the girls to 
come from the study. You know, Elsie, Cousin 
Marcia’s daughter is employed in a library in 
Boston. She might advise about things.” 

To be sure! ” exclaimed Elsie. But I sup¬ 
pose Sandy has it all planned.” 

Xot minutely,” protested Sandy. I don’t 
know anything at all about technical details. 
Just to give the right book to the right person is 
as far as my idea goes.” 

“ It is odd,” said Mr. Luther reflectively, in 

the period I have spent in Still River, I have 

177 


178 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


thouglit several times that the town ought to 
have a public library, but my thought was never 
put even into words, much less deeds. Thor is 
the only book-hungry person who crossed my 
path and I could lend him my own books. I fear 
I wasnT very public-spirited. I will make up 
for my negligence by contributing some late pub¬ 
lications, as soon as we find out what is needed.^^ 

There are my new books on farming and 
poultry! ” exclaimed Sandy boyishly. I can 
just see them trotting down the turnpike! 

So be it,’’ Mr. Luther agreed laughingly. 

And one or two on radio, because I know sev¬ 
eral men who are interested in building sets.” 

A book on making candy,” suggested Elsie. 

‘^And cook-books and dressmaking,” put in 
Mrs. Luther. 

Help! ” cried her husband. “ I have only 
three years of neglect for which to atone.” 

Those will follow,” said Sandy, enjoying him¬ 
self hugely. Once the thing is started, it will 
grow.” 

You must make the young people do all the 
hard work, Sandy,” said Mrs. Luther. ‘‘You 
can be ready with advice, but let them do the 
rest.” 


A VISITOR 


179 


My specialty is getting George to do it,’’ 
Sandy told her laughingly. Sally, I think the 
mail is sorted by this time and Henry should be 
humping.” 

All right,” agreed Sally. How I hope Mr. 
Moffatt will see those other men so we can do 
something on Saturday! ” 

Don’t expect it, and then you will be sur¬ 
prised if it happens,” advised Mrs. Luther as the 
two drove away. 

^^^^0 letter from Aunt Kuth,” said Sally dis¬ 
appointedly as she came from the post-office with 
a handful of mail. All these for you but noth¬ 
ing from her. Her Sunday letter was never so 
late before.” 

Perhaps Uncle Caleb forgot to post it,” sug¬ 
gested Sandy, glancing over the envelopes. It 
will probably come to-morrow. There’s some 
good reason for its not appearing.” 

There was in truth the best of reasons, as Sally 
learned the very next day when she came home 
from her lessons. Stopping at the post-office as 
usual, she was again disappointed. Bather 
soberly she tucked the newspaper into her bag of 
books and, having exchanged greetings with sev¬ 
eral people, started up the hill. 


180 ROBIN HOLLOW 

The toot of an automobile warned her to stick 
to the side of the road, but she was unprepared 
to hear the horn continue its blast and the vehicle 
overtake her and suddenly stop. One glance 
showed her Aunt Euth’s car, with the chauffeur 
grinning and Aunt Euth herself beckoning ex¬ 
citedly from the window. In her joy, Sally 
fairly tumbled into the coupe. 

Darling Auntie! And here was I ready to 
cry because your Sunday letter hadn’t come! 
How do you do, George! Oh, Auntie, I am so 
glad to see you! ” 

My dear Sally, you can’t be more glad than 
I am to see you. Let me look at you, child. 
Sally, you are a tiny bit thin, but you look well, 
—^yes, you look very well. And how is Sandy 
getting along? ” 

Oh, Auntie, I do think he is gaining. I can’t 

believe it is just because I want it to be so. I’m 

/ 

so anxious for you to see him. It’s just lovely 
to have you. Couldn’t Uncle Caleb come? ’’ 
Caleb had a slight cold, and it was incon¬ 
venient for him to leave his business. Sally dear, 
will you tell George where to go? ” 

Of course,” said Sally, peering about her. 
We are almost at Ericsson’s farm. Just a short 


A VISITOR 181 

way, George, and a lane goes off to the left, which 
leads straight to Robin Hollow.’’ 

Underneath her loving greeting to her aunt, 
Sally the housekeeper was thinking steadily. 

Lucky that Mrs. Hodges came to-day so things 
will be clean and cooked up. Aunt Ruth must 
have my room so I can make her a fire in the 
morning. I’ll go into the shed chamber. I 
sha’n’t mind the squirrels,—^not very much, be¬ 
cause I know they aren’t mice. What shall I 
do with George? We’ll have to fix him some 
kind of cot bed on Sandy’s porch.” 

You must let me take things just as they 
are,” Mrs. Hopkins was saying. I don’t want 
to make any unnecessary trouble. George is go¬ 
ing to leave me and then drive on to Rutland. 
His parents live just beyond and he will spend 
the week-end and pick me up again on Monday, 
if you want me that long, Sally.” 

Want you. Auntie? And will you really stay 
till Monday—four whole days? Oh, I never 
dreamed of anything so nice as that! ” 

After a drive like this, a day or two is too 
short a visit. I planned for Monday if it is per¬ 
fectly convenient.” 

Convenient! ” sighed Sally. I’d sleep with 


182 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


a thousand squirrels to keep you over Sunday! 
Here’s Robin Hollow, George! Ob, won’t Sandy 
be surprised! ” 

Mrs. Hopkins certainly had no reason to com¬ 
plain of the welcome received from either niece 
or nephew. Sandy’s greeting was as affectionate 
as his sister’s. 

Presently George had shaken hands with 
Sandy, whom he cordially liked, taken Mrs. 
Hopkins’ suit-case from the car, as well as sev¬ 
eral interesting-looking packages, refreshed him¬ 
self with a drink of Robin Hollow’s famous 
spring water, and departed for Rutland. Mrs. 
Hopkins stood with Sandy before the open 
Franklin stove while Sally hustled her room into 
shape for her aunt’s use. 

She cleared a bureau drawer by the simple 
method of dumping its contents into a towel and 
taking said towel into the shed chamber. She 
transferred sheets and blankets to the room 
where the squirrels played and set her own in 
order, even lighting a little fire in the round 
stove to take the chill off the October evening. 

There may be some dust,” she thought, but 
Auntie is such a good sport she won’t care. The 
kettle must be boiling now and I’ll make her a 


A VISITOR 183 

cup of tea and then bring her up here to rest, if 
she likes.’’ 

Meanwhile Mrs. Hopkins was looking very 
anxiously at her nephew, who was aware of that 
fact and tried to pass it off with a joke. 

^^Acknowledge that I’m a husky-looking in¬ 
valid, Auntie,” he demanded. 

You look better than I feared. I really think 
you are improved, Sandy. You look far less 
tired, and that haggard expression has gone. 
You have more color and it seems to me you 
have put on a little weight.” 

Auntie, I’m distinctly better,” said Sandy 
seriously. I^ext week, I am to see that doctor 
in Rutland, but I know for myself. This place 
is a rest-cure in itself, and the air is great. And 
Sally has been such a little brick. Do you think 
she is all right? ” he ended anxiously. “ Does 
she look as though it was too hard on her? ” 

]^o, Sally is looking well and looking happy, 
which is what I was most anxious about. I 
feared a little that she might be lonely and un¬ 
able to adjust herself to such an entirely new 
life. You are older and more inclined to be 
philosophical. I didn’t know just how Sally 
would stand the change from her schoolgirl 


184 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


world to one of real responsibility. But every 
letter written me has been cheerful, and she says 
she has made pleasant friends.” 

Sally really is a wonder. I didn’t think she 
could do what she has done.” 

She has grown more mature; that can be 
read in her face, but it is not to be deplored. 
Bless me! what is this around my ankles? ” 

This is the boss of Robin Hollow,” said 
Sandy, picking up the gray kitten. Allow me 
to present Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, known as Rikki- 
Tik.” 

The sweetest kit on earth,” amended Sally, 
coming in with a cup of tea. Here, Auntie, 
drink this and don’t believe any slander about 
Kitty-Pik. Best of kittens is Rikki-Tik! Don’t 
you think this is a dear room? ” 

It is pretty and homelike,” agreed Aunt 
Ruth, looking about with interest. What 
charming carvings on the beams and doors! I 
suppose Alexander did them. I have always 
wondered what sort of home he made for him¬ 
self. It was surely an attractive one.” 

A fire and books make a pleasant spot for 
any man,” said Sandy. 

And a kitten before the fire,” added his aunt. 


A VISITOR 


185 


Is it not Agnes Eepplier who has written some¬ 
thing about no hearth becoming a home until 
the little fireside sphinx takes her place beside 
it and the purring of kittens is added to the 
domestic symphony? 

I told you that Riklii-Tik is the sweetest and 
best of cats/’ commented Sally. It is so late, 
Auntie, that I am not going to offer you any¬ 
thing but this tea, and we will have supper as 
soon as I can get it. We usually have it in here 
because it is such fun to make toast at this fire. 
And when you have finished the tea, let me take 
you up-stairs and bring you some hot water to 
wash with.” 

Child, you mustn’t wait on me like this,” 
protested Mrs. Hopkins. ^^And as for supper, 
that box contains a chocolate cake which Carrie 
made especially for you. When she knew I was 
coming here, she announced that she should make 
it. I asked her to make those cookies Sandy 
likes, but I did not dare mention both cake and 
cookies. So that is a real love-offering to you, 
Sally.” 

Think of having one of Carrie’s marshmallow 
chocolate cakes in Robin Hollow! In my wildest 
dream I never expected it! I must try to save 


186 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


one piece for Elsie, not gobble it all. Sandy, 
your cookies will keep; we will eat my cake to¬ 
night. Don’t bump your head on the stairs. 
Auntie—I mean on the ceiling.” 

Dear, I don’t want you to turn out of your 
room for me,” protested Mrs. Hopkins. ^^Let 
me sleep in the guest-chamber, wherever it is.” 

Couldn’t think of it. Auntie. That guest- 
chamber has too many uninvited guests. I don’t 
want you to be wakened by squirrels playing tag 
all over your bed. I sha’n’t mind them one 
particle.” 

You are a dear child, Sally, and your house 
does credit to your managing.” 

That’s due to Mrs. Hodges. She comes and 
cleans everything in sight and cooks stuff to last 
till she comes again. I’m so lucky to have her 

because it isn’t easy to get help in Still Kiver. 

« 

She came in the beginning to oblige Mrs. Luther 
and now she thinks I need somebody to keep my 
feet on earth, and she likes Sandy and so she 
keeps on coming. My! if she didn’t like us, she 
wouldn’t make any bones of saying so.” Sally 
went on with a sudden recollection of the dis¬ 
comfited Abner Scudder. “ If you have every¬ 
thing you want. Auntie dear, I’ll fly down and 



A VISITOR 


187 


start supper. Here’s a candle and don’t fall 
down those stairs because they are fiercely steep. 
Oh, Auntie, look out and see Dagmar bringing 
the milk. Isn’t she the dearest little girl? I’ll 
ask Sandy if he doesn’t want to send word to 
Thor not to come for his lesson to-night.” 

Sandy had thought of this and when Sally 
came into the kitchen, little Dagmar was de¬ 
parting with the message and one of Carrie’s 
raisin cookies. 

Sally pulled the table before the sitting-room 
fire, spread it with the blue cloth and reappeared 
with a tray of blue dishes. Her brother helped, 
and a really appetizing little meal awaited Mrs. 
Hopkins’ descent. 

I don’t know when I have had such a good 
time,” she said, when supper was over. The 
drive seemed to me most tiring, though George 
was considerate of my comfort, but this is worth 
it all.” 

I know you are tired,” said Sally. Now I 
am going to issue directions to the family and I 
expect to be obeyed. Auntie is to sit here and 
cuddle Rikki-Tik, who has been wofully neg¬ 
lected to-day. He told me, Sandy, that you 
didn’t pet him at all.” 


188 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Little liar! ” observed Sandy cheerfully. “ I 
suppose he didn^t mention the extra saucer of 
milk he wheedled out of me in the middle of the 
afternoon? ’’ 

Don’t call my kitten names! Auntie shall 
hold him and Sandy is to talk to her and neither 
one of you is to come into my kitchen.” 

Sally’s orders met with instant protest. It 
was finally settled that Mrs. Hopkins should 
come into the kitchen and hold the kitten while 
Sandy helped with the dishes as usual. Sally 
was forced to accept the compromise. 

Are we not better fixed here than you ex¬ 
pected? ” Sandy asked when they again returned 
to the sitting-room. 

Yes, much better. The house is more com¬ 
fortably furnished and more homelike. There is 
something very appealing about the place, but I 
don’t know just what it is.” 

I know,” said Sally. Uncle Alexander 
loved Robin Hollow so much that he loved it into 
having a personality of its own. He gave it a 
soul.” 

Mrs. Hopldns looked slightly shocked. I 
know what you mean,” she agreed after a mo¬ 
ment, ‘‘only it would never have occurred to 


A VISITOR 189 

me to express it in that way. You have left it 
unchanged? 

Practically/’ said Sandy. We have shifted 
a chair or so as we wished, but nothing more. 

t 

There have been no changes except the slight ones 
of actual living.” 

Those dishes we used to-night, as I said at 
the time, are Lafayette pottery as you suspected, 
Sandy, but how did they come into Alexander’s 
possession? I cannot imagine his buying them 
with any knowledge of their value.” 

He may have picked them up at some coun¬ 
try auction,” suggested her nephew. 

Possibly, but antique dealers are usually 
watching every auction for just such articles.” 

And there is that old flax-wheel in the cor¬ 
ner,” said Sally. That seems an odd thing for 
Uncle Alexander to have. We have wondered 
about it.” 

Mrs. Hopkins was sitting with her back to the 
wheel. She turned to look at it, then rose and 
inspected it carefully, looking especially at a 
wisp of flax clinging to the spindle, and at the 
little water-gourd hanging for the spinner to 
moisten the thread. She looked so long and so 
earnestly that the two young people exchanged 


190 ROBIN HOLLOW 

glances. Sally’s glance was a question, Sandy’s 
a warning. 

I think I have seen that wheel before,” said 
Mrs. Hopkins, returning to her seat, her face in 
its usual composure. Many years ago, when 
Caleb and I were young along with others, there 
was a series of living pictures at the town hall. 
I recall that one was of Priscilla and John Alden. 
The part of Priscilla was taken by a young lady 
of whom your Uncle Alexander was very fond, 
and I remember that she had her flax tied with 
a pink ribbon and that the gourd on the wheel 
was not smooth as usual, but covered with 
minute humps, like that one. Alexander was 
John Alden. I am quite positive that is the 
wheel used on that occasion, but I do not know 
how it came into Alexander’s possession.” 

He must have had some sentimental affec¬ 
tion for it,” said Sandy so naturally that Sally 
breathed a sigh of relief. She had not dared look 
either at Aunt Euth or at her brother. 

I presume that is the correct solution,” 
agreed Mrs. Hopkins, for I distinctly recall 
those two peculiarities about the wheel. Sally, 
there should be another package somewhere. I 
hope George took it out.” 


A VISITOR 


191 


^^Is it this, Auntie dear? I hope so, because 
something about the shape tells me that it is 
candy. Oh, what a big box, and all the kinds we 
like best! You are a real fairy godmother! 
Sandy, let^s have a party while Auntie is here. 
Let’s invite the Luthers and Thor for supper 
Sunday night.” 

Let’s! ” Sandy assented. “ Auntie would 
love Mrs. Luther and I want our friends to meet 
her.” 

“ To-morrow,” planned Sally, “ you had better 
go down with Humping Henry and tell Elsie I 
won’t come for lessons till Monday. And ask 
them all for Sunday night. We will have supper 
round the fire. And stop at the farm and ask 
Thor.” 

You had better ask Thor,” said Sandy 
gravely. If I invite him he will have a fit of 
bashfulness. He’ll come like a streak for you.” 

I don’t know why he should feel shy. He 
knows the Luthers so well, and it’s just Auntie 
in addition. But I want her to see Mrs. Erics¬ 
son and baby Hilma. I’ll take her there and 
then I can ask Thor, ^uch a pretty kitchen. 
Auntie, and the dearest baby you ever saw! ” 


CHAPTER XIII 


THE BLUE SAUCER 

Mrs. Hopkins had come to Robin Hollow pre¬ 
pared for inconvenience and possibly actual dis¬ 
comfort, but was pleasantly disappointed. She 
slept soundly in Sally’s narrow gray-painted bed 
with windows open to the mountains and a 
breeze fresh from their summits blowing in. 

Her niece had asked her not to fasten the door 
to her room, and Mrs. Hopkins, supposing that 
Sally felt a little lonely in an unaccustomed 
chamber, readily agreed. The meaning of the 
request came to her when Sally, fully dressed, 
opened her door softly and peeped in. 

Did you sleep well. Auntie dear? ” she asked, 
shutting both windows with strong young arms, 
and bestowing a hasty kiss upon Mrs. Hopkins 
before opening the stove door. 

Wonderfully well. Sally, what are you do¬ 
ing? Oh, my dear, you need not build a fire for 
me.” 

Of course I am going to make a fire. Just 

192 


THE BLUE SAUCER 193 

lie still and in ten minutes this room will be as 
cosy as can be.’’ 

“ But, Sally, you have dressed in the cold your¬ 
self,” protested Mrs. Hopkins. 

Not on your life. Auntie. I arose in a cold 
room, grabbed my clothes, fell down-stairs and 
had a warm toasty spot before the sitting-room 
stove to wash and dress. Now it is Sandy’s turn 
for that fire, and you shall have a warm place 
here and hot water for your bath. I assure you. 
Auntie, there isn’t much roughing it about life 
at Robin Hollow.” 

So it seems, when Sally takes off all the raw 
edges.” 

But I love to do it for you. See what a nice 
little blaze! You can even open a window again 
in a few minutes if you want to. I often do, for 
I am so used to having them open on Sandy’s 
account that I don’t feel at home unless there 
is a draft blowing through the room. I suppose, 
when it is midwinter, we shall have to keep 
more shut up.” 

You must have some cloth screens for the 
sitting-room and kitchen. When I get back to 
Boston I will hunt some up at once. They are 
narrow, adjustable screens, covered with cloth 


194 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


and fitted carefully. One put in a window ad¬ 
mits fresh, air without a draft.’’ 

That will be fine,” assented Sally, sitting 
back on her heels and smiling at her aunt over 
her crackling fire. And just the thing for wet 
weather, too, when the rain beats in. Don’t 
hurry over dressing, because we have breakfast 
any time, and Sandy will shave though the house 
were falling. He seems to think the goblins will 
get him if he ever omits that ceremony.” 

Sally took especial pains with her breakfast 
that morning, setting copper percolator and yel¬ 
low pottery in place with great satisfaction, and 
delighted to have her pretty table appreciated 
by her aunt. After the meal, Sandy departed 
with the car to do some errands and see the 
Luthers. 

There is one thing I want you to say to 
Sandy,” Sally began as they washed the dishes. 

That is, that this year of irregular study isn’t 
going to hurt me at all. When you meet Mr. 
Luther, you will know that studying with him 
and in Elsie’s company is a very good thing for 
your thoughtless Sally, even though we are con¬ 
centrating on languages and English literature. 
And Sandy’s instruction in mathematics is un- 


THE BLUE SAUCER 195 

doubtedly good for me, though, a trial to us both. 
You do think it is all right, don’t you? ” 

I do, dear,” Mrs. Hopkins agreed. There 
are life lessons we all have to learn sooner or 
later, and you are getting some of those just 
now, and they are doing you good. Even though 
the school work may be irregular, the other 
things are important.” 

That’s what I told Sandy,” said Sally with 
satisfaction. I have learned a pile about 
housekeeping from Mrs. Hodges and Mrs. Erics¬ 
son and Mrs. Luther. I guess I have a ‘ teapot in 
my soul,’ Auntie, because, really and truly, I 
love to keep house. I even like to wash dishes, 
that is, pretty dishes. And if Sandy and I ever 
have a home together in the city, it will be a lot 
easier just because of living here. I love Robin 
Hollow so much. I hope we can always keep it 
and come here sununers.” 

I should greatly dislike to see the place pass 
into the hands of strangers,” observed her aunt. 

Caleb feels that it would be well for Sandy to 
get rid of it as soon as he has lived here the 
stipulated length of time, but now that I have 
been here, I feel as you do, dear. Robin Hollow 
must stay in the family. If the time ever comes 


196 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


that Sandy thinks he must dispose of it, I want 
the chance to be the first purchaser. Here conies 
pretty little Dagmar.’’ 

Sally took the milk and eggs and coaxed 
Dagmar, suddenly shy, to come in and speak to 
her aunt. 

We are coming to see baby this afternoon, if 
you think Mother would like to have us,’’ Sally 
informed her. 

“ She would,” said Dagmar, finding her 
tongue. I’ll tell her, so Hilma will have on a 
clean dress.” 

“What! another? I never saw her when she 
wasn’t perfectly spick and span.” 

“ This will be her best dress,” explained Dag- 
mar, “ the one Gram made with Norwegian em¬ 
broidery.” 

“ Oh, I should like to see that,” Sally agreed 
cordially. “ Auntie, you will love the crocheted 
lace Dagmar’s Granny makes, inches wide, and 
such intricate patterns. She is going to show 
me how to do a chemise yoke.” 

Sally was putting away her dishes, giving 
Rikki some of the fresh milk and generally set¬ 
ting the kitchen in order as she talked. Mrs. 
Hopkins, after a few words to little Dagmar, 


THE BLUE SAUCER 


197 


went up-stairs, intending to make lier bed and 
set her room to rights before Sally could get 
ahead of her. 

Chatting to the child, who was following from 
kitchen to pantry and from pantry to shed, Sally 
did not notice that a closed car had stopped be¬ 
fore the cottage. Her first knowledge of an im¬ 
minent visitor was a knock on the door. She 
opened it to see a strange lady, elderly, very 
stylishly dressed, and with a face massaged until 
every particle of expression had been ironed 
from it. Sally glanced from her to the limousine 
and chauffeur. 

Good-morning,’’ said the stranger ingratiat¬ 
ingly. Could I trouble you for a glass of 
water? ” 

Why, certainly,” said Sally, still rather puz¬ 
zled, for she did not know the lady and yet could 
not get out of her head the thought that she 
might be some one from town who knew of their 
being at Kobin Hollow. “ Bring a glass, will 
you, Dagmar? ” 

The stranger promptly stepped into the 
kitchen. “ What a pleasant room! ” she re¬ 
marked patronizingly. How sunny and charm¬ 
ingly old-fashioned.” 


198 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


“ It is pleasant/’ said Sally. Oh, not that, 
dear,” as Dagmar presented her with a heavy 
blurred tumbler. One of the goblets, please.” 

Dagmar gave her a funny, protesting look, but 
brought the goblet. Meanwhile their visitor was 
peering about the room. Her eye lighted on the 
blue saucer from which Rikki-Tik was luxuri¬ 
ously lapping the last drops of milk. 

Here is the water,” said Sally, presenting it. 

It comes from a spring up the mountain.” 

Thank you,” said the lady graciously, with 
gaze fixed on the goblet. Why, my dear,” she 
added, what a pretty glass and what delicious 
water! It would be worth a good deal to you if 
you could sell this bottled in the city.” 

“ I imagine it would cost more to bottle and 
sell it than it would be worth,” said Sally, 
amused at the suggestion. The visitor sipped the 
water slowly, her glance darting oddly about the 
kitchen, resting on the kitten’s saucer, now 
empty, and on the closed doors of the wooden 
china closet. 

I have a curious fancy for collecting glasses 
from which I have enjoyed a drink,” she said at 
length. It is a mania, I know, but harmless 
and one that pleases me. Will you let..me have 


THE BLUE SAUCER 199 

this glass, my dear? I will give you fifty cents 
for it.’’ 

.Sally paused in surprise, both at the request 
and because of a sudden pull Dagmar gave her 
apron from behind. 

I don’t care to sell it,” she said pleasantly. 

But you will be indulgent to a whim, won’t 
you? I have quite a collection of mugs and 
glasses that have quenched my thirst in different 
parts of the earth. I will even make it a dollar. 
Suppose we call it that.” 

Sally disliked the patronizing tone as well as 
the words. “ No,” she repeated, I don’t care 
to sell it.” 

But think a minute. For a dollar you can 
buy another glass far more handsome than this 
one.” 

Why don’t you buy it for yourself? ” in¬ 
quired Sally spiritedly. 

Because I have drunk from this. It would 
not be the same at all. I could not place the 
new one in my collection with the same senti¬ 
ment. I tell vou what I will do: I will make the 

t/ 7 

offer two dollars and take that saucer there on 
the floor. It is a pretty shade of blue and I can 
find a,use for it.” 


200 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Another pull from Dagmar, and Sally’s quick 
brain grasped the situation. She knew some¬ 
thing about the blue saucer herself. 

Neither is for sale,” she said with dignity. 

Please put that bill back in your purse.” 

Nonsense! ” said the woman impatiently. 

Just think of the things you can buy with a 
two-dollar bill. Have you any more blue 
dishes? ” 

She started to cross to the china closet, but 
with a quick motion Sally stepped before it. 

Nothing whatever in this house is for sale,” 
she said. “ Dagmar, call Auntie.” 

Dagmar went, so hurriedly that she escaped 
the hand the woman extended to hold her back. 

Now, don’t be foolish,” she protested. Of 
course, I shall be glad to see your auntie. She 
will advise you to accept my offer.” 

I don’t think she will,” said Sally grimly. 
Still protecting the china closet, she slipped off 
her big enveloping apron and took the cap from 
her head. For the first time, the visitor really 
looked at her and a doubt entered her mind. 
Freed from these disguising garments, the young 
person who prevented access to a closet which 
she felt sure held more of those old English en- 


THE BLUE SAUCER 


201 


graved goblets worth fifteen dollars apiece, if 
they were worth a cent, and probably more of 
that rare Lafayette pottery, appeared not quite 
the loutish country girl she thought. Sally^s 
pretty leaf-brown jersey dress with gay touches 
of orange embroidery bore an unmistakably 
sophisticated city air; brown curly hair framed 
an undeniably pretty and piquant face, pale and 
angry though it looked. 

My dear-” she began. 

I am not your dear,” snapped Sally. Don’t 
you call me that again.” 

‘^You entirely mistake my motive. I want 
only something of mutual benefit to us both.” 

I don’t doubt the benefit to you,” retorted 
Sally, who, as Sandy said, could never be both 
angry and polite. I don’t see where mine comes 
in.” 

“ To get rid of an old goblet and a saucer that 

you use to feed a cat-” 

He’s my cat and it’s my own affair if I choose 
to feed him on a gold platter! I-” 

Sally never finished a sentence which she in¬ 
tended to make utterly withering. An expres¬ 
sion of blank amazement, changing to one of 
mortification, came over the face of her unknown 





202 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


visitor. Glancing behind her, Sally saw her aunt 
quietly standing in the doorway. Under one el¬ 
bow peeped Dagmar’s eyes, round with interest. 

“ Why, why—er,—Mrs. Hopkins! ’’ gasped the 
stout lady, her face turning reddish-purple under 
its coat of powder. 

Mrs. Hemingway,’’ replied Aunt Ruth icily. 

Sally’s wrath turned into a desire to giggle. 

Gracious! ” she thought. I never before saw 
Auntie look like that! Talk of annihilating by 
a look! ” 

I stopped for a glass of water. I—I—I 
didn’t dream this was just a summer place. I 
thought it was an old farmhouse.” 

Indeed! ” said Mrs. Hopkins. 

I—er,—was rather interested in this old gob¬ 
let and the blue saucer, but your niece—I am 
correct in assuming she is your niece? ” 

You are.” 

“ She says she does not care to part with them, 
so of course I should not think of urging her.” 

It would be unwise,” said Mrs. Hopkins in 
the same unbending fashion. 

^^Well, then there’s nothing more to be said. 
Only- 

For a moment, Mrs. Hemingway struggled 







Glancing behind her, Sally saw her aunt quietly 
STANDING IN THE DOORWAY.— 202 . 

























THE BLUE SAUCER 


203 


with some strong emotion that finally burst into 
words. Keally, you know, she ought not to 
feed a cat from a saucer of Lafayette pottery! 

There was something so human in this shocked 
protest that it struck a sympathetic chord in 
Sally, and caused Aunt Ruth’s iciness to thaw 
one degree. 

I agree with you,” she said. But it is 
Sally’s saucer and Sally’s kitten. And even 
those who live in old farmhouses on country 
lanes, sometimes like old-fashioned dishes and 
know their value. I have never had any patience 
with collectors who tried to bully people into 
parting with things against their will.” 

I didn’t mean any offence,” said Mrs. Hem¬ 
ingway, but it seemed as though I just couldn’t 
stand that cat lapping milk from that blue 
saucer! ” 

I know it is valuable,” said Sally. I only 
let him eat from it once in a while. His gray 
fur is so pretty against the blue.” 

Sally spoke pleasantly and Mrs. Hemingway 
looked relieved. Of course I didn’t realize that 
you cared about the things,” she said. Good¬ 
morning.” 

Good riddance! ” muttered Sally, shaking a 


204 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


fist after her departing back. To tbink, 
Auntie, that you should know her! 

My acquaintance with her is slight,^’ cor¬ 
rected Aunt Kuth. I shall know her still less 
in the future.’’ 

Did you ever hear of such colossal cheek? ” 
Sally went on, as the limousine left in haste. 

They are always doing it,” said Dagmar un¬ 
expectedly. That was why I brought you the 
ugly glass, Sally. Ma keeps an awful homely 
one on purpose to let people have drinks from. 
And before she opens the door, she always shuts 
the china closet tight. But sometimes they want 
old chairs.” 

Why, Dagmar, how terrible! ” exclaimed 
Sally. You poor darling! That was why you 
were pulling my sldrt and trying to make me 
understand.” 

I’ll pull harder next time,” Dagmar assured 
her earnestly. Only don’t ever let ’em get into 
the house if you can help it.” 

Well, I have learned something new!” 
sighed Sally. After encountering Abner 
Scudder and Mrs. Hemingway, I feel prepared 
to cope with any lion that may now cross my 
path.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


sally’s party 

Aided by Aunt Ruth, Sally planned her Sun¬ 
day night supper with all the enjoyment and zest 
of a young housekeeper. Different dishes were 
discussed and discarded in favor of sandwiches 
of a substantial variety, hot chocolate with 
marshmallows, cake and candy. On the pre¬ 
sumption that all their guests would eat a hearty 
dinner, a simple repast which could be largely 
prepared beforehand seemed best. 

I thought, when I was packing my suit-case, 
that I was foolish to bring a silk dress,” said 
Mrs. Hopkins as she stood with Sally before the 
fire, looking around the pleasant living-room. 

On second thought, I tucked it in and now I 
am glad I did.” 

You look sweet,” said Sally. When my 

hair is gray, I hope my cheeks will be pink like 

yours and then I’ll have a dress just that color. 

This is our first party at Robin Hollow. I have 

served afternoon tea several times, but not had 

206 


206 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


guests for a meal. I am glad to get into this 
pongee. I always liked it and it will wash, so I 
think I can risk making chocolate. Auntie, you 
are to sit still and enjoy yourself with the 
Luthers. Elsie will help me serve things, and 
so will Thor. You are to be company. I only 
ask that Rikld-Tik be preserved from getting un¬ 
derfoot.’’ 

And that is a job for a strong man,” com¬ 
mented Sandy. While we are Avaiting, Auntie, 
I wish you would look at this note-book I found 
in Uncle Alexander’s desk, and see whether it 
means anything to you. You solved the mystery 
of the flax-wheel; perhaps you may be keen 
enough to see through this.” Sandy opened the 
old desk as he spoke. 

No,” said Mrs. Hopkins, after a careful ex¬ 
amination of the book he handed her. I can¬ 
not see any meaning in these entries. They are 
evidently a record of something in which Alex¬ 
ander was interested and for which he conducted 
a systematic search.” 

Do you know of any subject on which he was 
especially keen? ” Sandy asked. 

It would be easier to name the things in 
which he was not interested. Your Uncle Alex- 


SALLY’S PARTY 


207 


ander was a mail of very wide sympathies. He 
hailed as kin everything human or animal. I 
think he would rather hear a thrush sing than 
attend a symphony concert. I have myself seen 
him pick a drunken man out of a Boston gutter 
and render him personal assistance, completely 
indifferent to the jeers of the crowd. I have 
known him to threaten a teamster who was 
abusing his horse. I have also known him to 
keep an assembly of friends waiting an hour for 
dinner, while he completed his observations of a 
colony of ants.’’ 

Sandy burst out laughing. I was born a 
full quarter-century too late,” he declared. 

How I should have enjoyed being Uncle Alex¬ 
ander’s contemporary! ” 

“ He was a most interesting companion,” Mrs. 
Hopkins agreed, though he used to try the pa- 
tience of your Uncle Caleb. Personally, I found 
Alexander amusing and stimulating, but he often 
exasperated Caleb beyond words. Could this be 
a record of birds or flowers or possibly ferns? ” 

I thought of that but it is too brief. Were 
it one of those, he would surely have written 
names in full, otherwise, why keep the record? 
It strikes me that it is a memorandum of some- 


208 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


thing he was trying to find, or possibly of some 
experiment he was making, and in which he was 
not always successful. Was he interested in 
chemistry? 

Mrs. Hopkins shook her head. I think I may 
safely say no to that question. Still, there were 
many years after his first youth when I saw next 
to nothing of Alexander. He may have become 
interested in chemical experiments.’’ 

I hardly think it was that,” said Sandy, for 
the reason that there are only two chemical 
formulas, and because all these dates are in 
months when one is naturally out of doors. 
Chemical experiments could be carried on quite 
as well during the winter months, so the dates 
are against that theory. Of course it is of no 
importance only I was rather piqued that I 
couldn’t make sense of the thing. Here come 
the Luthers—Elsie driving as usual.” 

She feels safer when she has the wheel,” said 
Sally. “ Her father—poor dear—doesn’t always 
take off the brake when he starts, and sometimes 
forgets how to stop the car.” 

Sally ran to the door to meet her guests, wel¬ 
come them and present them to her aunt. 

In spite of Sally’s letters, Mrs. Hopkins had 


SALLY’S PARTY 


209 


not fully realized tkat in this tiny Vermont vil¬ 
lage, her niece and nephew had really fallen in 
with their own sort of people, and she was 
charmed at first sight with the Luthers. 
Scarcely were the introductions completed when 
a tall figure came slowly across the yard. 

There^s Thor,’’ exclaimed Sally. Now our 
party is complete.” 

Thor’s rather sober face lighted at sight of 
friendly Sally, holding out a welcoming hand. 
Though Mrs. Hopkins would be the only stranger, 
any social occasion was a trial to shy Thor, who 
had really forced himself to come. Nothing less 
than Sally’s personal invitation could have got 
him into his Sunday suit and a high collar. 
Sally herself was rather impressed by his appear¬ 
ance, for the inexpensive suit fitted Thor’s broad 
shoulders and his erect carriage made him look 
even more of the viking. 

Thor’s stunning,” Sally thought as she gave 
him a smiling welcome. If only his company 
manners match his looks-” 

Sally need not have worried. Though un¬ 
trained in polite society beyond what courtesies 
he had observed at the parsonage, Thor’s natural 
instincts served him well. Mrs. Hopkins, as she 



210 ROBIN HOLLOW 

gave him her hand, was conscious of a feeling of 
surprise. 

This boy a farmer’s son! ” she thought. 

He has the dignity of a senator.” 

Sally served her supper at once and made no 
scruples of putting to work Elsie, who offered to 
help, and Thor, who did not. In the fun of bring¬ 
ing plates and cups, Thor became wholly at ease. 
During their merry running back and forth, the 
air was rent by a cry of anguish. 

Oh, goodness! ” exclaimed Elsie. Rikki- 
Tik, did I step on your precious paw? ” 

Rikki-Tik is accustomed to have people walk 
round him,” said Sally severely. He is used to 
being considered. Sweet kit^—^were his feet and 
his feelings hurt? Never mind, Elsie didn’t 
mean to walk on you. Sandy, do hold on to him 
now. I should think you could manage a little 
job like that.” 

I shouldn’t have stepped on his feet if they 
weren’t so big,” said Elsie teasingly. 

Rikki’s feet big? ” protested Sally indig¬ 
nantly. They are just the right size. Rikki- 
Tik is a perfect kitten.” 

You will make him conceited if you talk like 
that,” said Thor dryly. 


SALLY’S PARTY 


211 


Sally’s supper proved a great success. Mrs. 
Hopkins, though, used to more formal methods of 
entertainment, enjoyed this free and easy one, 
and the Luthers were at home in any company. 
Thor said little, but when he spoke, had some¬ 
thing to say, and Elsie and Sally were as happy 
as Rikki, now completely consoled for his recent 
injury by a repast of warm milk, served,—shades 
of Mrs. Hemingway,—^in a blue saucer! 

Sally, did you know that we may go ahead 
with the library? ” Elsie asked when the cups 
and plates were removed and the entire party 
settled down to talk and to watch the chestnuts 
Sandy and Thor were roasting on the edge of the 
hearth. 

^^What, has Mr. MofiPatt seen the others?” 
Sally asked, dropping beside Elsie’s chair. I 
have })een so busy since Auntie came that I 
haven’t thought of the library.” 

I think Sandy knows,” said Elsie, glancing 
across to the older members of the party, ab¬ 
sorbed in conversation, “ but probably he forgot 
to mention it. Yes, Joshua has seen the other 
selectmen and we may have the key to the room 
and do what we like.” 

^‘How about a fire?” asked Thor, slitting an- 


212 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


other chestnut and putting it down to roast. 

That place will be as damp as a tomb.” 

There is wood for heating the town hall and 
Mr. Moffatt says we may use what we need. 
When can you come to help, Thor? ” 

Thor took a full minute to consider. Not 
before next Saturday, I am afraid,” he replied 
at length. 

Let’s say Saturday, then,” suggested Sally. 

I have made you miss lessons for two days, 
Elsie, and I suppose your father would think 
neither of us ought to take any more time off. I 
could go some morning, but that cuts Thor out. 
Let’s be patient till next Saturday and then 
make a lark of it.” 

I’ll get the key from Joshua and start the 
fire so the place will be warm when you come 
to work,” offered Thor. “ I suppose there is a 
stove? ” 

“ So Mr. Moffatt told Sandy,” replied Sally. 

Daddy will come and do any heavy lifting,” 
Elsie went on. “With him and wuth Thor, 
Sandy won’t need to do anything hard. Until 
the place is in some sort of shape again, there 
are enough of us to work, but later on, I sup¬ 
pose it would be good policy to get the other 


SALLY’S PARTY 


213 


young people interested. Daddy thinks we might 
give a community play and turn over the pro¬ 
ceeds to buy new books.’’ 

There! ” said Sally triumphantly. Start 
anything, as Sandy says, and it grows before you 
know it. But, Elsie, isn’t there a library com¬ 
mission in Vermont? ” 

I’m sure I don’t know. Do you, Thor? ” 
Thor shook his head. ‘‘ If there is one, what 
does it do? ” 

Sandy thinks there must be a State commis¬ 
sion such as we have in Massachusetts. Why, it 
is a board appointed by the State to help towns 
that want public libraries. Sandy thinks the 
commission would advise us, and perhaps help 
in some way, though he isn’t sure about that. 
But we shall have some new books, because Aunt 
Ruth is going to look over hers and send some 
she doesn’t care to keep, and Sandy will give 
some of those which are sent up to him for re¬ 
viewing.” 

Can he keep those books just for writing a 
few paragraphs about them ? ” demanded Thor 
hungrily. 

Yes,” said Sally, ^^but of course there are 
many he doesn’t want for himself.” 


214 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


I hope sometime I can qualify for a job like 
that/^ said Thor simply. 

You may have any of those books to read/^ 
Sally assured him. Dagmar told me how she 
was enjoying the ^ Jungle Book.’ She said Oscar 
pretends not to like it, but he always hangs 
around when she reads it to Gram.” 

Gram likes that book,” said Thor. Some¬ 
times she tells us stories of Norway, legends 
about the forest and wolves and trolls and giants. 
If somebody could write ’em down as Gram talks, 
they’d make a book.” 

Write them yourself, Thor,” suggested Elsie. 

Who could do it better? ” 

Thor blushed and looked uncomfortable. I 
couldn’t do it good enough to print,” he mut¬ 
tered. 

The next time I am at your house. I’ll ask 
Gram to tell me a story,” Sally declared. I 
love to hear her talk. I could listen all night. 
Elsie, you must get her to teach you how to 
crochet a nightgown yoke.” 

Gram taught me two years ago,” said Elsie 
laughingly. “ Many garments do I possess with 
yokes crocheted after Gram’s directions. But, 
Thor, if we should have a community entertain- 


SALLY’S PARTY 


215 


ment, do you think your father would bring his 
violin and play those Norwegian folk dances? ’’ 

‘‘ I guess he would. He likes to fiddle.’’ 

Mr. Ericsson plays entirely by ear,” Elsie 
explained to Sally. He can go to a concert 
and come home and play everything he heard. 
And he knows the dearest, weirdest, quaintest 
old Norwegian airs. Oh, we must surely have 
him. 

Then there is an old Irishman who lives on 
the other side of Wildcat. He knows stacks of 
Irish fairy tales. If we could only persuade him 
to tell one before a lot of people,—but I suppose 
he wouldn’t.” 

I don’t believe you could ever get Pat to open 
his mouth except in his own kitchen and to just 
a few listeners,” said Thor. If you could, it 
would be worth hearing.” 

People with any talent whatever will be ex¬ 
pected to produce it for this occasion,” decreed 
Elsie. 

“ I haven’t any at all,” said Sally. My only 
accomplishment is tying a square knot. I 
wouldn’t know that, only Sandy compelled me 
to learn. 

He had reason,” she went on with a laugh. 


216 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


I once gathered a lot of cowslips and Sandy 
was to take some to a friend. I put them in a 
paper box and tied it securely, as I thought. 
Sandy went by train and put the box in the 
rack overhead. He had to share the seat with a 
strange lady. When he took down the box, the 
string came untied and he dumped all the cow¬ 
slips and considerable water which had drained 
off them, on top of that poor woman’s spring 
hat! 

I know it sounds funny,” Sally admitted, 
smiling at their amusement, “ but it was one of 
the few times I have seen Sandy seriously upset. 
He came home and told me what he thought of 
me and of my slipshod knot. Luckily, a whole 
day had passed between the accident and the 
time he again saw me. Then he showed me how 
to tie a square knot, and stood over me till I 
could do it.” 

And what did the lady say about her hat? ” 
asked Elsie. 

Sandy was always vague about that part of 
the story. He placed the entire emphasis on my 
knot,” sighed Sally. Don’t let your mother 
catch your eye, Elsie. It isn’t time for you to 
go home yet.” 


SALLY’S PARTY 


217 


iN'ever fear/’ Elsie reassured her. It will 
take more than one glance to start either Dad 
or me, when we are having such a nice time.” 

Indeed, it was what Mrs. Luther designated 
as shockingly late before that pleasant circle 
broke up. 

I hate to have the evening end,” sighed Sally, 
as Mrs. Luther finally rose. To-morrow won’t 
be at all a nice day, because it means we have to 
let Auntie go.” 

“ I am so glad she could come,” said Mrs. 
Luther, slipping her arms into the coat which 
Sandy held for her. After a glance, Thor of¬ 
fered similar help to Elsie. You must feel so 
much happier about these two, now you have 
seen them so cosily situated in Robin Hollow,” 
she added, turning to Mrs. Hopkins. 

Indeed, I do! ” Aunt Ruth replied with feel¬ 
ing, especially happy, since meeting their 
friends. It means much to feel that you and 
your husband are interested in them.” 

We have grown very fond of your young 
people,” said Mrs. Luther aside. “With Elsie 
and Sally it was love at first sight. We feel that 
they quite belong to us now, and you can rest 
assured that anything we can do for either will 


218 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


be done. Thor is devoted to both, and he is a 

I 

near neighbor and a host in himself.’’ 

Thor, you may stand on the running-board,” 
called Elsie. I’ll give you a lift if you can take 
it that way.” 

I guess I can hang on,” Thor assented in his 
deliberate manner, and the little car lurched into 
the darkness, heavily weighed down on the side 
where Thor clung. 

Wasn’t it a nice time! ” sighed Sally as they 
closed the door of Kobin Hollow behind their 
departing guests. I suppose poor Thor will 
have to get up at sunrise to milk, but all the 
same, I hope he enjoyed it enough so it will be 
worth it. Auntie, let’s not do the dishes to¬ 
night. It will seem so much more partyish if 
we pretend there aren’t any to wash. And, be¬ 
sides, a miracle might happen and they would 
wash themselves. Anyway, let’s give the fairies 
a chance to put in a few licks.” 

Just the silver, Sally darling,” protested 
Mrs. Hopkins. 

Seven spoons? Well, just the silver then, but 
positively not one dish until to-morrow morn¬ 
ing.” 


CHAPTER XV 


THE STILL UlYEK LIBRARY 

On Monday morning, promptly at the hour ap¬ 
pointed, appeared George and the car. 

Here I have been holding thoughts over that 
car,’’ lamented Sally, that there might be a 
small accident, not to hurt anybody, but just 
enough so you could stay one more night. 
Auntie, do you think you will come again this 
fall?” 

I am afraid not, dear. The weather will soon 
become uncertain, and your Uncle Caleb gets 
lonely when I am not there.” 

I know,” Sally admitted, for she was fully 
aware that Mr. Hopkins, though never evincing 
any demonstrative affection for his wife, was as 
uneasy as a fish out of water when she was from 
home. It has been so lovely to have you, and 
now you will know just how things look and have 
a picture of it all when I write.” 

That means so much to me, Sally. I feel 

contented and happy about you both. If only 

the winter does not prove very severe-” 

219 



220 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


It will come a day at a time/^ said Sandy, 
who had been consulting George over some 
trifling ailment of Humping Henry, and who now 
came to the waiting coupe. Consider the shed 
piled with wood and coal, and all the canned 
things in the pantry in case we are snowed in, 
and think of our good neighbors only a quarter 
of a mile away. Spring will be here before we 
know it.” 

Mrs. Hopkins finally tore herself from Sally^s 
arms and the car disappeared down the lane. 
Sally gave a sigh. 

Well, thaCs that!” she said with a gesture 
of dismissal. I^m so glad she came, and so 
sorry she has gone, but of course we could not 
expect to keep her.” 

Sally, I think I will ask Mr. Luther to go to 
Rutland with me to-morrow,” Sandy observed. 

Oh, don^t look frightened; I’m perfectly all 
right. It is only so I need not drive both ways, 
and he said the other day that he was going to 
Rutland shortly. If he could make it convenient 
to choose the same day, it would be fine for me.” 

The alarmed expression left Sally’s face. If 
he can’t go, I will. I’d just as soon drive both 
ways. When is your appointment? ” 


STILL RIVER LIBRARY 221 


At two. Why don’t you spend the day at the 
parsonage or have Elsie here, if you prefer? 
That is, if Mr. Luther does go.” 

It depends on the weather. If it is warm 
and bright, we may go for chestnuts. We need 
more than we have found.” 

Mr. Luther was glad to time his visit to Rut¬ 
land with Sandy’s appointment and Elsie and 
Sally decided on another hike and picnic, this 
time on Spruce Mountain. On the way back, 
they discovered a faint yellow blaze on a tree, 
and, leading from the path, another trail, not 
well-trodden and just to be distinguished in the 
underbrush. 

Sally was interested in this find, but not eager 
to spend much time in exploration, for, with the 
passing hours, her thoughts had been more and 
more with Sandy, and her anxiety to know the 
doctor’s opinion became ever more intense. It 
was five when thev again came out at Robin 
Hollow, happy, hungry, and with knapsacks 
filled with chestnuts. 

Let’s make some hot chocolate,” Sally pro¬ 
posed. If you will wait until Sandy comes. 
I’ll run you down with Henry.” 

Elsie stopped for chocolate and cookies, but 


222 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


preferred to walk kome. I’m not tired/*’ ske 
said. Daddy kad errands, so it wouldn’t sur¬ 
prise me if tkey don’t come before seven. Don’t 
worry if tkey are late. You aren’t afraid to stay 
alone, are you? ” 

Sally said ske wasn’t and Elsie kurried into 
tke dusk. All tke same, Sally koped tkat ker 
brotker would not be delayed so long as seven. 
Ske played witk Kikki-Tik and prepared for 
supper everytking wkick could be made ready in 
advance. 

Until seven ske was not really anxious, but 
after tke clock struck tkat kour, ske began to 
count tke minutes. At eigkt, ske decided to eat 
ker supper and tken worried lest sometking kave 
kappened to tke car. 

Y^Tiat a goose you are! ” ske said to kerself. 

Tkere migkt be reason for worrying if Sandy 
were alone, but witk Mr. Lutker along wkat can 
kappen?” 

At a quarter-past eigkt, tke welcome sound of 
an approacking car greeted ker ears and tke next 
moment, tke koot of Henry’s familiar korn. 
Sally flew to fling wide tke door. 

Did you tkink we kad come a smask? ” called 
Sandy. Everytking is all rigkt, only tke 


STILL RIVER LIBRARY 223 


starter kept sticking and I thouglit Vd better 
get it fixed because I won’t have you trying to 
crank the engine. It took longer than I expected 
and there was no way to let you know. I must 
get after that telephone company.” 

I don’t mind, now you’ve come,” said Sally, 
relieving him of an armful of packages. But 
the doctor—^what did he say? ” 

Well, not a clean bill of health yet, but on 
the road to it,” said Sandy cheerfully. Of 
course, this is the first time he has seen me and 
he knew only what the one in Boston wrote him, 
but he thinks I am making progress. I am to 
go again in a month, and by that time he can 
judge for himself. But I have improved, Sally, 
—I know that for myself.” 

Sally said nothing, but her face was so elo¬ 
quent that Sandy smiled. It isn’t going to 
storm,” he said. I’ll drain Henry’s radiator 
and we’ll leave him under the open shed. Is 
there anything left for me to eat or has Rikki- 
Tik filched it all? ” 

Sally skipped ahead toward the oblong of 
light that streamed welcomingly from the door 
of Robin Hollow, and her brother followed with 
an odd sense of coming home. 


224 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Thor was as good as his word. That next Sat¬ 
urday when the Allisons arrived at the town 
hall, a fire was blazing in the tall sheet-iron 
stove, red with rust, that occupied one corner of 
the room where Still River’s books had long lain 
neglected. The two had hardly entered when 
Elsie and her father came. 

The prospect was not attractive. Dingy and 
dirty, with windows almost obscured by cob¬ 
webs, shelves reaching above one’s head and filled 
with books, some crowded close together, some 
leaning at crazy angles or even fallen flat, more 
piled in untidy heaps on the floor,—all reduced 
to an uninviting monotony of soiled paper covers. 
Though unattractive, it was not discouraging, 
because it so plainly offered a place to begin. 

These books are thick with dust,” said Elsie, 
touching one gingerly. Look, the mice have 
chewed some up entirely! The first thing is to 
clean house.” 

The two men were looking with interest at the 
titles written in an almost illegible hand on the 
paper backs. 

“ There is some good stuff here,” said Mr. 
Luther, turning to Sandy, popular history and 
science, though that is probably out of date.” 


STILL RIVER LIBRARY 225 


Standard authors and interesting travel/^ 
said Sandy, looking along the shelves. I don’t 
know much about this fiction,—here are the chil¬ 
dren’s books.” 

‘‘ Well,” said Mr. Luther, after they had spent 
some ten minutes in examination and had con¬ 
cluded that there was considerable worth salvag¬ 
ing, ^‘what are your orders, Sandy? This is 
your hunt.” 

Oh, I don’t want to boss,” said Sandy mod¬ 
estly. I suppose, as Elsie says, the first thing 
is to clean up.” 

Do you suppose they will let us take off these 
ugly paper covers?” asked Sally, removing one 
as she spoke. See how much more attractive 
the book looks.” 

As I understand,” said Sandy, we have per¬ 
mission from the selectmen to do what we please, 
provided we don’t present any bill. Am I right, 
Thor?” 

That’s what they said. When I was build¬ 
ing the fire Joshua came in and I asked if we 
might tear off these covers. I thought, as Sally 
says, that they spoil the books. First, he said 
we’d better not and then he said he didn’t care. 
So we can strip ’em off if we like.” 


226 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Let^s begin on that/’ suggested Sally, take 
a shelf at a time and tear off the covers and dust 
the shelf and the books and put them back.” 

‘‘When they are clean and we can read the 
titles better, we will arrange them by subject,” 
supplemented Sandy. 

“ Then right here is where we divide working 
squads,” said Mr. Luther. “No handling ol 
dusty books for Elsie, and—if I may say so— 
for Sandy, either.” 

“ I suppose that’s right,” agreed Sandy with a 
rueful smile. “ Elsie, here is where you and I 
get off.” 

“ And aren’t we the lucky ones? ” said. Elsie, 
quick to notice the hint of mortification in his 
tone. “We will leave these, our slaves and 
vassals, to make the place fit for our occupancy 
and then we will come back and do the nice, 
pretty part ourselves! ” 

As she spoke, Elsie swept a low courtesy. 
“ Come on,” she said to Sandy, “ come over to 
the parsonage, and help me cover the rose¬ 
bushes. How long will you minions be with your 
cleaning? ” 

“ I don’t know,” said Thor, grinning at her 
fancy. “ Depends on how thick we find the dust 


STILL RIVER LIBRARY 227 

on all these books and shelves. Better not come 
back for an hour at least.’’ 

We can’t do it in that time,” declared Sally. 

I agree with you,” said Mr. Luther, and we 
shall certainly be smothered unless we open a 
window. Let’s open it even at the risk of 
Joshua’s displeasure and a comment about our 
trying to heat all outdoors.” 

“ That’s what Mrs. Hodges says about Robin 
Hollow,” said Sally laughingly. But she is be¬ 
ginning to realize that we do it for a purpose.” 

Mounting a chair, Sally began with the top 
shelf. She handed the books to Thor and Mr. 
Luther, who took them over to the window, tore 
from each the paper cover, dusted it carefully 
out in the air, and placed it aside. When the 
shelf was empty, Sally swept it carefully with 
the pan and brush Thor procured from some 
other part of the building. Then they gave her 
the books, clean in their bright bindings and 
began on another shelf. But at the end of an 
hour only one section was arranged. 

You may peep and see how it is going to 
look,” decreed Sally as her brother and Elsie 
came again to the door. This is going to be a 
longer job than we thought.” 


228 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Oh, aren’t they attractive! ” exclaimed Elsie. 

I wouldn’t believe they were the same books. 
I can see just how the place is going to look.” 

“ Have you come across ‘ Gulliver’s Trav¬ 
els’?” asked Sandy. ^^When you do, keep it 
handy, because Mr. Moffatt wants it.” 

We haven’t and I will,” promised Sally, but 
we sha’n’t be lending any books to-day, and you 
and Elsie can’t do anything this afternoon. 
Why don’t you two go and write a letter to the 
Vermont Library Commission—didn’t you find 
the address, Sandy? Ask them to tell us how to 
arrange this library in a properly professional 
manner.” 

I second that motion,” said Mr. Luther. 

All in favor of appointing Sandy and Elsie a 
committee of two to write that letter, say aye.” 

Aye,” laughed Sally, and Thor’s deeper voice 
chimed in. 

Then go away,” said Mr. Luther. “ That’s 
your job for the afternoon and if you get through 
before we do, play marbles or dolls or Mah Jong 
or otherwise entertain yourselves until you hear 
from us.” 

The two departed and the work went steadily 
on. Shelf by shelf the books shed their ugly 



Mounting a chair, Sally began with the top shelf. 




























1 


STILL RIVER LIBRARY 229 


protecting jackets, were dusted, wiped, and given 
their places in shining rows. 

Just as much as I can,’^ said Sally, ^^I am 
sorting the kinds of books. I have two shelves of 
history now, and all the stories I am putting on 
this side of the door. My! there are things I 
want to read.” 

Sally snatched a chance now and then to dip 
into a book as she waited for the others, to whom 
fell the harder and dirtier part of the task. 
Darkness came on and Thor procured a lamp. 

It^s five,” he said reluctantly. I must go 
home to help milk. I told Father I would be 
back for that.” 

^^We have nearly finished, Thor,” said Mr. 
Luther. ^^All that is left is this heap on the 
floor. Sally and I can put them through. We 
wonT stop to sweep up the mess of covers. I 
think we have done enough for to-day.” 

I will clear away this clutter before next 
time,” said Thor, looking at his hands, black 
with dust and grime. If you’ll agree to leave 
the mess for me. I’ll go.” 

Another half-hour completed their task. All 
the books were free from covers, and arranged 
on clean shelves in orderly lines. One pile in 


230 ROBIN HOLLOW 

bad condition was laid aside for closer examina¬ 
tion. 

Doesn^t it look a thousand times better? ” 
said Sally, surveying the room with satisfaction. 

I wouldn^t have believed it could be so im¬ 
proved. Oh, here’s Elsie again! ” 

I had to see how it looks now,” declared 
Elsie, sticking her fair head around the edge of 
the door. What a change! You are certainly 
the champion miracle-workers. Oh, what dirty 
hands! Sally, Mother says you are to come home 
to supper with us. Sandy’s agreeable.” 

He’d better be! ” said Sally, looking disgust¬ 
edly at her fingers. ^^My hands are so dirty 
they actually hurt! ” 

Run along with Elsie,” said Mr. Luther. 

I’ll look after the fire and the lamp and lock up 
here.” 

Sandy,” said Sally as they were returning to 
Robin Hollow after a jolly supper in the pleasant 
dining-room at the parsonage, while we were 
working over those books this afternoon, I found 
several given by Uncle Alexander.” 

“ What kind were they? ” asked Sandy, keep¬ 
ing an eye on the speedometer, for when Sally 
drove, she was liable to go faster than the law 


STILL RIVER LIBRARY 231 


allowed. Slow down, for the love of Mike! 
Yon mustn^t hit such a pace on these narrow 
roads.” 

Sally obeyed. There may have been some I 
didn’t notice, but I saw one on birds and one on 
ferns and two on geology.” 

“ Oh,” said her brother as though an idea had 
struck him. Well, that is interesting.” 

“ What? ” asked Sally. Isn’t it cold to¬ 
night? I suppose it may snow any time. I’m 
glad Humping Henry is provided with curtains, 
but of course we can’t drive all winter.” 

^^No,” Sandy answered mechanically. When 
the car was put up and the lamp lighted in Robin 
Hollow, he went straight to Uncle Alexander’s 
bookcases. 


CHAPTER XVI 


A BOX FROM BOSTON 

So promptly did the Vermont State Library 

* 

Commission show its interest in the letter written 
by the two exiles that the reply reached Robin 
Hollow on Thursday evening, giving Sandy 
ample time to study the suggestions contained 
in the cordial and sympathetic communication. 
The Commission expressed unbounded approval 
of their plan, offered ideas as to interesting other 
people, and promised assistance in the form of a 
traveling library, either general or specialized. 

Well,’^ said Sandy after careful study of the 
recommendations, “ so far as I can see, we need 
only the cheapest possible equipment. They 
suggest a simple loan system, the material for 
which we can obtain at slight expense. Of 
course, in a small village where the librarian 
knows everybody, no elaborate system of records 
is necessary. I will foot the bill for what we 
need to begin with.” 

“ In every library I ever used there was a date 

stamped in the book to show when to bring it 

232 


A BOX FROM BOSTON 233 

back/’ observed Sally, who was letting Eikki-Tik 
play with the curly end of her braid. 

I have a dating stamp I’ll contribute and we 
will put the date on a slip of paper stuck into 
each book.” 

^^Mr. Luther is going to speak about it in 
church,—tell the people that the library is to be 
open again, and he will ask the pastor of the 
Baptist Church to give the notice, too. I should 
think we could get things pretty nearly ready 
this next Saturday because you and Elsie will 
help. Here comes Thor for his geometry.” 

It is growing very cold,” said Thor as he 
left his coat in the kitchen. I’ll bring in some 
extra wood before we begin work.” 

Oh, thank you,” said Sally. Between you 
and Mrs. Hodges, I almost never have to carry 
in wood.” 

Thor made no audible reply but piled both 
boxes high. On the nights of his lesson, he al¬ 
ways took pains before leaving to fill the soap¬ 
stone stove with large chunks of hard wood, 
pieces that Sally found difficult to lift. As a 
result, the sitting-room fire kept in splendid 
shape and Sally’s morning labors were lightened. 

Thor looked tired, so Sally thought, as she 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


234 

took her books and the kitten and settled herself 
by her special lamp at one side of the fireplace. 
She reflected that it was no easy task to help 
with the farm work, look after animals, go sev¬ 
eral miles to school, and tutor during the even¬ 
ing. No wonder that Thor had no extra flesh on 
his muscular figure, and no doubt that he would 
appreciate an education for which he paid a 
price. 

This evening Sally really studied, for the boys 
were deep in symbols and angles, and their re¬ 
marks were so extremely technical that they 
failed to distract her attention. At a quarter to 
nine she laid aside her book, put Rikki-Tik, a 
bunch of limp relaxed fur, into his bed and went 
to the kitchen. The lesson would end at nine or 
a few minutes later, and she made a point of 
providing a plate of cookies or some of Thor’s 
superb apples. To-night, she made hot chocolate, 
partly because the night was cold, partly because 
it was good for Sandy, and partly because Thor 
had looked tired. She was not displeased with 
its reception. 

It’s going to snow,” Thor observed as he put 
on his coat. The air feels like it.” 

I wish it wouldn’t,” said Sally. I don’t 


A BOX FROM BOSTON 235 


know how we shall manage when we can’t use the 
car. But I suppose there will be some way.” 

“ There always is,” Thor assured her as he said 
good-night. 

In the shed, Sally had found two slabs of soap¬ 
stone about sixteen inches long and half as wide. 
These, Mrs. Hodges informed her, were meant to 
be heated on top of the stove, wrapped in flannel 
and used to warm one’s bed and feet. 

They hold the heat for hours,” she an¬ 
nounced, better than any hot-water bottle ever 
invented.” 

To-night they were heating on the sitting-room 
stove and Sally tucked one into Sandy’s porch 
bed and one into her own. 

I don’t see how Sandy can stand sleeping in 
this cold place,” she thought. ^^No wonder he 
prefers blankets to sheets.” 

Sally’s room was never very cold at night and 
she went to bed in comfort. Next morning she 
woke with a start of surprise to see snow blowing 
past her windows. 

Dear me! ” she thought. And it is only 
the tenth of November. That snow is inches 
deep already, and br-r, how cold! ” 

Slamming down her windows, she made haste 


236 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


to seek the warm sitting-room. Here, the world 
looked even more wintry, for the wind was howl¬ 
ing and blowing clouds of snow across the space 
between the cottage and the woods. Trees stood 
like gaunt specters, half-revealed by a lull in the 
gale. 

Sally looked at the outdoor thermometer. 

Fourteen above! ’’ she read in dismay. I 
hope the pump isuT frozen. If I had supposed 
it would grow so cold, I’d have had a coal fire in 
the kitchen. I’ll just take a look at things before 
speaking to Sandy.” 

She found the kitchen fire out and the room 
extremely cold. Putting on a heavy sweater and 
a pair of gloves she tackled the stove. In a few 
moments it sent forth a cheerful craclde, and 
heat which warmed the space about it but made 
no appreciable difference to the rest of the room. 
Then she found that no water would come from 
the pump. 

This was a poser. ^‘I suppose it is frozen,” 
she thought, “but how can I find out where? 
The only pipe in sight is this underneath the 
sink.” 

Lighting a lamp, Sally placed it where its heat 
would reach the yard of exposed pipe. Rikki- 


A BOX FROM BOSTON 237 


Tik, who had slept luxuriously in the warm sit¬ 
ting-room, followed her and rubbed about her 
ankles. 

I can’t stop to feed you,” Sally told him, 
and besides, I expect the milk is all frozen.” 

It was frozen. Sally stared in dismay at a 
solid column of cream capped by its paper 
stopper, standing straight up for two inches 
above the bottle. 

‘‘ Things expand when they freeze,” she 
thought in a curiously detached fashion. “ I 
shall always remember that now.” 

She tried the pump, still with no result, and 
then thought to pour into it some of the water 
hot on the other stove. She gave an exclama¬ 
tion of satisfaction when this treatment worked, 
and after gaspings and sputterings the pump be¬ 
gan to suck and the water came. 

I don’t know whether it was due to the hot 
water or the lamp, but, anyway, it is thawed,” 
she thought triumphantly. Well, this is where 
that coal in the shed goes into action—if I Imow 
enough to build a coal fire. I’ll wake Sandy 
now, but this room won’t be warm enough for 
breakfast. We’ll have to eat in the other one.” 
Sandy’s bed was deep with blankets, wool puffs 


238 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


and a top layer of snow but her brother himself 
was warm and oblivious of the storm. He gave 
a whistle as he woke to a realization of the 
weather. 

This is going some,” he acknowledged. 

And only November. How are the fires? ” 

All right,” said Sally. Hustle into the sit¬ 
ting-room, won’t you? It’s nice and warm 
there.” 

Sandy’s brief transit from bed convinced him 
that winter had come in earnest, and he did not 
wonder when Sally said she had been obliged to 
thaw both jjump and milk. After breakfast, he 
lent advice as to starting the coal fire, and by 
the time Sally was ready to clear up, the kitchen 
was cosy and comfortable. 

I don’t know about your going down to the 
parsonage to-day,” Sandy remarked later in the 
morning, while Sally was fitting into a sitting- 
room window one of the cloth screens sent by 
Aunt Ruth. 

The storm may let up by noon. If it keeps 
on like this, Elsie won’t expect me. There, this 
screen is fine. The air is coming in and yet there 
isn’t a draft. I am afraid you can’t be out even 
on the sleeping-porch unless the wind changes. 


A BOX FROM BOSTON 239 


I started to sweep out the snow, but it blows 
right back, so I might as well wait until it stops. 
On the whole, I am glad we haven’t a cow and 
hens to take care of on such a morning. Eikki- 
Tik seems to be all the live-stock I can look 
after. What is he playing with? ” 

Isn’t it something you gave him? All the 
time I was dressing he was batting two or three 
pebbles about the floor.” 

It is nothing I ever saw.” Sally picked up 
a pebble as she spoke. What a pretty stone! 
Rikki-Tik, where did you get this? ” 

“ Perhaps Thor dropped it. Let’s see.” 

Sally handed it to him and Sandy examined 
with some interest a bit of mineral, yellowish in 
color, clear at one end and cloudy at the other, 
evidently of crystalline formation, since its shape 
was a rough hexagon. 

It may be a quartz crystal,” he remarked, 
turning it over in his Angers. 

Here is another,” said Sally, retrieving the 
kitten’s toy from under the edge of the rug. 

This is smaller and dark red in color. And 
here is a tiny red one.” 

Probably they came from Thor’s pocket,” re¬ 
marked Sandy. 


240 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


I’ll put them on the mantel and we will re¬ 
member to give them to him the next time he 
comes,” said Sally, suiting the action to the word. 

Poor Rikki-Tik, did his cruel family take away 
all his lovely playthings? Here, you shall have 
a spool tied to the handle of the secretary, and 
that’s far better than hard old stones. I want 
to make a custard for dinner, Sandy, and then 
I will come and do algebra.” 

All day the storm continued. Oscar instead 
of Dagmar brought the milk and reported that 
the blizzard was a regular snorter and that the 
road was badly drifted. Sally asked him to tele¬ 
phone the parsonage not to expect her, and the 
inhabitants of Robin Hollow settled themselves 
to make the best of matters. The wind howling 
round the corners and the drifting snow made 
the cottage seem cosy and homelike and Sally 
rather enjoyed being shut in. 

If this is a sample of a Vermont winter, I 
don’t believe we shall mind it much,” she com¬ 
mented when the time came to light the lamps 
for evening. 

Sandy assented, though he knew they were 
likely to have weather far colder than this sam¬ 
ple. 


A BOX FROM BOSTON 


241 


There are snowshoes in the shed,” said Sally. 

I want to try them.” 

You will have a chance all right,” said her 
brother. DonT you want to bring the book and 
read ^Snowbound’ aloud? WeVe never before 
had the right setting.” 

Next morning the storm had stopped and Sally 
looked upon a glittering world. The familiar 
hills and peaks in their white garments seemed 
to have gained seven-league boots as well and to 
have moved strangely nearer Robin Hollow. 

Winter in the country is pretty,” she 
thought. It’s wonderful to see such stretches 
of snow, and such white snow. If only that 
kitchen fire has kept and the pump isn’t frozen.” 

Neither catastrophe had happened. The coal 
fire was alive and water flowed with the first 

f 

touch of the pump handle. Sally sang as she 
gave Rikki-Tik his milk and got breakfast. 

The cold snap did not last long; the snow 
gradually melted, though not entirely, and re¬ 
mained as the foundation for a blanket which 
stayed until the coming of April. Sally went 
down to the village that first day and returned 
with a quantity of mail and the information that 
two large boxes were waiting for her brother. 


242 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


They came by express from the Star/’ she 
announced. I told Thor, and he said he would 
bring them up this evening when he would be 
down with the horse. There’s a letter, too, from 
the Star.” 

Sally, absorbed in a letter from Aunt Ruth, 
was presently aroused by an exclamation from 
her brother. 

Was there ever a kinder set of fellows! 
What do you think, Sally? The reporters’ room 
has clubbed together to send me a radio outfit. 
They say it is for Christmas, only it is coming 
early so it can be installed before everything is 
frozen solid. Just think of being able to hear 
some entertainment every evening! ” 

Isn’t that perfectly splendid! ” said Sally en¬ 
thusiastically. 

They ought not to do it,” said Sandy soberly. 
^^As though it wasn’t enough for the Chief to 
hold my job for me and to give me all this re¬ 
viewing. They certainly are A No. 1.” 

I see where Thor does no more geometry until 
that set is installed,” said Sally slyly. 

I see where he puts up the aerial and does 
that part of the job,” Sandy agreed, looking 
more animated than his sister had seen him for 


A BOX FROM BOSTON 243 

some time. It^s a five-tube set, so we ought to 
pick up almost anything going. 

I’ll be contented with Boston,” said Sally. 

Boston is plenty good enough. Isn’t it 
great! ]Mr. Luther told me that several of the 
farmers were interested and were building sets. 
This one has a loud-speaker, so we can have an¬ 
other Sunday-night supper and entertain our 
guests with city music.” 

Sally was right in thinking that there would 
be no geometry done that evening. Thor came 
promptly, accompanied by Oscar, who helped 
bring in the boxes and then drove home, though 
invited and even urged to stay. 

When Thor knew the contents of the boxes, he 
was as eager as Sandy, and the living-room was 
presently strewn with coils of copper wire and 
all the essentials for setting up the radio. Both 
boys were eagerly studying the book of instruc¬ 
tions. 

Sandy already knew enough about installing a 
set to work intelligently and Thor was an apt 
pupil. His excited eagerness seconded Sandy’s 
calmer mind and before the evening ended they 
had gone far toward getting into shape the in¬ 
side construction. Sally and Thor brought down 


244 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


from the storeroom a firm, steady table and it 
was decided that the wire should enter the house 
above one of the sitting-room windows. This 
would give ample opportunity to use trees in 
fastening the aerials. Thor finally tore himself 
away, promising that he and Oscar would both 
lend a hand the next day. 

This is the most exciting evening we have 
spent in Robin Hollow,’’ yawned Sally as she 
said good-night. And it will be even more ex¬ 
citing when the battery is connected and we are 
listening to a concert in New York or Chicago, 
if you please! What would Uncle Alexander 
think to see and hear such goings-on in Robin 
Hollow? ” 

I fancy the dear old chap would be mightily 
interested. I’m sure I wish he was here to 
listen in,” said Sandy. 


CHAPTER XVII 


BOOKS AND MODERN MAGIC 

In due time the Still River Public Library was 
pronounced ready for use. Notice had been 
posted in the stores, given from the pulpits 
of the two churches, and sent broadcast through 
the school children. Mr. Luther himself stopped 
at the white schoolhouse where two patient 
teachers struggled to teach several grades, and 
explained that the library would be open every 
Saturday afternoon from two until half-past five. 

Elsie and Sally managed the opening, for Mr. 
Luther had an engagement and Thor and Sandy 
were anxious to complete installing the radio. 
Nothing loth, the two girls accepted the respon¬ 
sibility and were cheered to find a group of chil¬ 
dren awaiting their arrival. 

Thor had built the fire, and Elsie had run in 
during the morning with a potted geranium in 
full blossom, which graced the old table serving 
as a desk. Upon it lay a fresh blotter with writ¬ 
ing materials and dater ready for use. Elsie 

245 


246 ROBIN HOLLOW 

was to sit at tlie desk and attend to the clerical 
part, while Sally, who had worked more with the 
books, helped people find what they wanted. 
There was a third assistant in the person of 
Dagmar, who accompanied Sally, and who an¬ 
nounced that she should remain until Sally left. 

“ Ma said I might,^^ she informed them, and 
then sat down with a copy of Alice in Won¬ 
derland ’’ and became oblivious to the world. 

One of their early visitors was Mr. Moffatt 
who looked around with interest. 

^‘Well, you have done some cleanin’ and no 
mistake,” he said good-naturedly. ‘‘ Must have 
used considerable elbow grease. I didn’t suppose 
it could look so tidy and pleasant. There was 
a book I was speakin’ to your brother about, 
Sally, but I misremember the name.” 

Oh, yes, he told me. Here it is, Mr. Moffatt.” 

The selectman glanced doubtfully at the vol¬ 
ume, took a peep into the pages and looked re¬ 
assured. 

This is the checker,” he said, taking off his 
glasses. Now, what do I do to get it? ” 

Elsie explained the very simple loan system. 

I will stamp the date here,” she ended. 

There, Mr. Moffatt. Please bring it back on 


MODERN MAGIC 


247 


or before tbe third of December. If you want it 
longer, just tell us and we will mark it for an¬ 
other two weeks/’ 

Not much red tape, eh? ” said the selectman. 

We don’t mean to have any,” Elsie assured 
him. Sandy plans to make it so easy that 
everybody will want to borrow books.” 

That’s good business,” commented Mr. Mof- 
fatt. Wal, I guess you girls Imow what you’re 
about. Got everything you want? ” 

The two looked at each other. Do you sup¬ 
pose,” asked Sally, “that we could have a few 
chairs from the big hall? People might like to 
stay and read if there was a place to sit. You 
see Dagmar has to sit on the wood-box.” 

Dagmar was perfectly happy on the box and 
desired no better seat, but the request struck the 
selectman as reasonable, especially since it in¬ 
volved no expenditure of the town funds. 

“ I dunno as there’s any objection,” he replied. 
“ I’ll fetch you three or four.” 

Laying “ Gulliver’s Travels ” on the edge of 
Elsie’s table, he departed to return after a mo¬ 
ment, carrying two wooden chairs in either hand. 
“ Guess you haven’t room for more. Got a 
duster? They need a bit of wipin’.” 


248 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally produced a duster and Ke departed, fol¬ 
lowed by their thanks. 

Lucky the windows were shut,’’ giggled Sally. 

If he saw them open we should hear from it. 
Fifteen books gone out already, Elsie. Who says 
Still River doesn’t care about a library? ” 

Sally repeated this remark in triumph to 
Sandy, when she came home. How many books 
do you think went out? ” she demanded eagerly 
as she entered the house. 

“ Oh, twenty,” hazarded her brother. 

Sally danced about the room. Is it work¬ 
ing? ” she demanded, stopping suddenly before 
the old table on which stood the completed cabi¬ 
net and the audiophone, which the senders had 
so thoughtfully included. 

Yes, it is working, but so was the library. 
How many books? ” 

“ Forty-two! ” exulted Sally. Don’t you 
think that is pretty good for a town that wasn’t 
supposed to want books? Elsie and I are crazy 
with joy. The children took most, but quite a 
number of grown people came. Mr. Moffatt got 
his ^ Gulliver ’ and old Mr. Damon wanted a book 
on pruning and fortunately there was a chapter 
in a book on fruit that told how. I was so 


MODERN MAGIC 


249 


pleased that we found it. And that cunning lit¬ 
tle Katy Boss came and hung around with her 
finger in her mouth till finally Elsie got out of 
her what she wanted. What do you think the 
poor dear said? ^ Will you please tell me what 
book my mother fold me to ask you for? ’ Only 
she lisped in the sweetest way. It was too far 
to send her back, and Katy was sure her mother 
wanted a story, so we chose one we thought she 
would like and Elsie wrote a note to say Katy 
forgot the name, and we hoped this would be 
acceptable. Dagmar sat on the wood-box and 
read the whole livelong afternoon. It was such 
fun, Sandy. I hope next week you can be there 
and see it for yourself.’’ 

Smiling at her story, Sandy had connected the 
battery and seated himself before the receiver. 

Let’s see what we can fish out of the air,” he 
said. We got Boston and Schenectady this 
afternoon and heard a concert from a fine or¬ 
chestra. I wish you had seen Thor’s face. He 
never heard a radio before. He is coming back 
this evening and I told him to bring his father 
and anybody else who wanted to come.” 

Then I had better get supper at once,” said 
Sally, but she stopped at intervals to listen to 


250 ROBIN HOLLOW ^ 

w 

fragments of Sandy’s fishing,” the late stock- 
market reports, a bedtime story, a soprano voice 
singing a lullaby. 

I don’t like her; she’s a squawk—shut her 
off,” called Sally impolitely. Goodness—it 
seems as though she must hear what I said. Do 
you suppose we could have the service at St. 
Paul’s to-morrow? ” 

We will try for it,” Sandy assented. “ I 
wish the wireless wouldn’t keep butting in. 
There were times this afternoon when I couldn’t 
tune it out, but this is a better set than Uncle 
Caleb’s. I can’t get over the fellows doing it 
for me.” 

It’s no more than you deserve,” Sally flashed 
back. You were always doing nice things for 
them.” 

Sometimes, when it is ‘ out of sight it is out 
of mind,’ ” said Sandy soberly. They are all 
so busy it is mighty good of them to remember. 
Is this chap more to your liking? ” 

“ Yes,” admitted Sally, stopping for a moment 
to listen critically to a really fine tenor. “ Yes, 
you may let him stay. Eeally, that speaker is 
as good as a victrola.” 

It is not at all metallic,” said Sandy and 


MODERN MAGIC 251 

was silent until the solo ended and was succeeded 
by a full orchestra. 

“ Where is that from? ” demanded Sally. 

don^t know. I didn’t get in on the be¬ 
ginning, but judging from the time, they must be 
about ready to sign off.” 

^^Well, supper is ready,” said Sally, bringing 
in a trav. 

Sandy carefully tuned himself out of range, 
for the very delicate instrmnent was affected by 
his withdrawal, and the two ate their supper to 
music, which, they learned at its conclusion, was 
broadcasted from New York City. 

Not only Thor and his father, but Mrs. Erics¬ 
son and Oscar came that evening to hear the 
radio, moved by Thor’s enthusiasm. Sandy was 
fearful that something would go wrong, but 
everything moved without a hitch, and an in¬ 
terested and absorbed audience listened with 
great enjoyment to an entire programme from 
Schenectady. Mr. Ericsson was as fascinated as 
his boys, but Mrs. Ericsson was not wholly 
pleased. 

It’s wonderful,” she admitted to Sally, but 
it’s queer, and I don’t like to think of what a 
mess the air must be.” 


252 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally saved this comment to tell Sandy after 
their guests had departed. 

Poor lady/’ he laughed. I would like to 
see her mental picture of the mussed-up atmos¬ 
phere. I was so glad Mr. Ericsson came. I’ll 
wager that not many weeks go past before that 
farm has a radio. Thor was so quick about 
helping hook up this that he could build a set 
of his own. He grasps the principle of a thing 
as quick as a flash. It is a great gift. His fa¬ 
ther was keenly interested—oh, Thor will get 
his radio.” 

I’ve something pleasant to tell you,” said 
Sally as she wound the big eight-day clock in the 
corner. “ I meant to tell you as soon as I came 
home, only there was the library to talk about 
and then the radio. Elsie says her brothers are 
coming home from college for Thanksgiving. 
Mrs. Luther looked into the library just to see 
how we were getting on and she invited us to 
have Thanksgiving dinner with her family. 
Isn’t that scrumptious, Sandy dear? ” 

Great! ” assented her brother cordially. I 
was wondering what we could do to celebrate, 
but there didn’t seem any special way. We can’t 
expect Auntie to come again. That will be fine.” 


MODERN MAGIC 


253 


“Elsie says the boys can stay over Sunday, 
so we will have a party some evening and ask 
them all to hear the radio,’’ Sally went on hap- - 
pily. “ There! I never remember to give these 
stones to Thor.” 

“ I showed them to him and he says they aren’t 
his.” 

“ Then where did they come from? ” asked 
Sally, putting the clock key in place. 

“ Ask Kikki. He evolved them during the 
night.” 

“ You were using Uncle Alexander’s desk. Do 
you think they dropped out? ” 

“ I can’t say,” replied Sandy. “ If they did, 

I didn’t know it. Thor seemed rather interested 
in them. He said he had found one or two crys¬ 
tals something like them back in the hills, but 
nothing like the yellow one.” 

“We ought to look through that old secretary 
and see if there are any more. Kikki must have 

found them somewhere, for they were not round 

* 

when we went to bed.” 

“ I’ll look through the drawers when I get to 
them,” said Sandy. “ By the way, your cookies 
made quite a hit with Mrs. Ericsson.” 

“ They are made by Carrie’s receipt and it is 


254 ROBIN HOLLOW 

different from hers. But I sha’n’t get a swelled 
head over any compliment from her, for very 
well do I remember the day when she prevented 
me from buying thirty-two pounds of sweet pota¬ 
toes down in Moffatt’s store. I was too mortified 
to tell you at the time, but I am surprised that 
you never heard of it, for all the housekeepers of 
Still River knew and were shocked to their in¬ 
most souls. It was really a scandal. I saw these 
nice potatoes and asked Jem how much they 
were and he said ^ eight for a quarter.’ I sup¬ 
posed—as any greenhorn would—that he meant 
eight potatoes, and I thought that number 
wouldn’t last long, because we both like 
them, and so I said I would take a dollar’s 
worth.” 

Sally stopped before her brother’s amused 
laugh. Well,” she went on, Jem stared for 
a second and asked if I meant a dollar’s worth, 
and then Mrs. Ericsson told me that it was eight 
pounds for a quarter, and that I couldn’t pos¬ 
sibly use a dollar’s worth before they spoiled. 
She told me very kindly indeed, but I was morti¬ 
fied because Jem laughed. I thought the only 
thing to do was to laugh myself, because of 
course it was funny in a way. I find there are 


MODERN MAGIC 


255 


a great many queer mistakes one can make in 
keeping house.’’ 

Especially when you have nobody to show 
you,” said Sandy sympathetically. Never 
mind, Sally-girl, you accomplish wonders, and I 
appreciate every bit of it. I’ll make it up to 
you some day, for this hard winter I’m giving 
you.” 

I’m having the time of my life,” declared 
Sally stoutly. I wouldn’t have missed coming 
to Eobin Hollow for anything. But whenever 
anybody says my cookies are good, I think of all 
the things that haven’t turned out well, and that 
keeps me from getting top-heavy. Rikki-Tik did 
a dreadful thing this morning. He was sitting 
on my shoulder while I carried a dish of apple¬ 
sauce into the pantry. Before I knew what he 
was doing he jumped straight into the middle 
of the dish! Poor Rikki-Tik, he was so aston¬ 
ished and his feelings were so hurt! He had to 
be comforted, though he had spoiled my nice ap¬ 
ple-sauce. Such a sticky little kit! I had to 
wash his paws as well as the floor. But Mrs. 
Ericsson is such an efficient person that it means 
a good deal to have her approve of anything I 
do.” 


256 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Efficiency seems to be the watchword of the 
whole farm/’ said Sandy lazily. Take that old 
horse Oscar drives. He is the most capable- 
looking animal. I don’t doubt that in an emer¬ 
gency he could do the family washing.” 


CHAPTER XVIII 


BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS 

The stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas 
brought real winter, the cold, stinging, glitter¬ 
ing, snowy winter of Vermont. Mornings 
dawned when Sally positively hated to get out 
of bed and had to summon every bit of resolu¬ 
tion to do so, but the plunge once over the rest 
was not so hard. Only once in a long time did 
the coal fire fail to keep overnight, but even then 
the pump did not freeze for Thor had showed 
her how to let out the water each evening. To 
be sure, a pitcher of water was needed to start 
it again in the morning, but the trouble of re¬ 
membering that was well repaid by the assurance 
that the pump would be in working order. 

Humping Henry was jacked up for the winter 
and the dwellers in Robin Hollow were de¬ 
pendent for many kindnesses upoif the Ericsson 
boys and the Ericsson horses. Sandy made an 
arrangement by which either he or Sally could 
command the use of a team ’’ as the shaggy 

horse and battered pung were styled. Sandy 

267 


258 ROBIN HOLLOW 

could walk to the farm when the distance to the 
village and back was more than prudence per¬ 
mitted. The Luthers’ old horse and sleigh fre¬ 
quented the lane to Kobin Hollow, but as the 
cold grew more intense, Sandy was of necessity 
more shut in. 

On his second visit to Kutland, the doctor told 
him that he was distinctly better, though not out 
of the woods. To Sandy’s disappointment, he 
would sanction no increased exercise nor any 
work involving physical exertion. 

I did so want to get out and tramp and chop 
wood and snowshoe and do something besides eat 
and loaf,” Sandy remarked, but that was his only 
outburst. To all appearances he settled down for 
another period of enforced inactivity, occupying 
himself with his writing and the radio, which 
was a never-failing source of interest. Sally 
blessed the kindly friends whose thoughtfulness 
did so much to lighten the weary hours. 

For the first time in her life, Sally looked for¬ 
ward to Christmas without anticipation. In 
fact, she was guilty of a quiet cry one evening 
when her brother had gone early to bed. Her 
many friends seemed dear and distant, any ade¬ 
quate celebration of the day was improbable and 


BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS 259 


the only thing was to get it over as easily as 
possible. 

Matters looked a little brighter when Elsie 
asked her to go to Rutland for a day^s shopping. 
The trip would be by train, since motoring was 
out of the question. As Mrs. Hodges was com¬ 
ing, Sally felt satisfied to leave her brother and 
accepted the invitation with joy. 

She was delighted to have a chance to choose 
Christmas cards and to select a few gifts without 
adding further to commissions already sent Aunt 
Ruth. She thoroughly enjoyed her visit to the 
pretty little Vermont city, doubly so because for 
three months she had seen no village larger than 
tiny Still River. 

Sandy had not added to her list of errands 
beyond choosing Christmas cards, for he had al¬ 
ready written his aunt about his gift to Sally, 
and had asked a friend on the paper to select 
certain articles intended for Thorns radio set. A 
letter to a Boston confectioner, requesting boxes 
of candy to be sent to Robin Hollow for further 
distribution, completed his shopping. 

The day’s outing did Sally good. When Mr. 
Luther brought her and her packages home, she 
had regained her usual sunny interest in the ap- 


260 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


proaching festival and was full of plans for mak¬ 
ing wreaths and decorating Robin Hollow. 

Sandy was permitted to see the contents of 
some packages, a tiny Teddy bear for baby 
Hilma, a doll for Dagmar, which Sally proposed 
to dress, a Boy Scout knife for Oscar, and a copy 
of Moby Dick ’’ for Thor. 

Thor does so many things for me,” she said. 

Don’t you think I might give him this? Isn’t 
it a pretty little edition? ” 

Sandy agreed. And what is all this white 
stuff? ” he asked, indicating a roll of tarlatan. 

To make angels’ wings. You know there is 
to be a pageant at the church the Sunday night 
before Christmas, and Elsie and I are dressing 
the angels. Mrs. Damon and Mrs. Penn are man¬ 
aging the thing and doing the other costumes, 
but we have twelve angels to dress. Dagmar is 
to be one; can’t you imagine how lovely she will 
look with her hair loose and white wings? These 
Japanese paper napkins are to make candy-bags 
for the church school-children. With these and 
finishing my own gifts, I shall have enough to 
keep me busy. Don’t you think Aunt Ruth will 
like her fir-balsam pillow? ” 

“ She will like it very much,” Sandy assented, 


BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS 261 


and with truth, for Sally had made a dainty 
white linen case, with Aunt Ruth’s initials em¬ 
broidered upon it, to cover a little white pillow 
filled with balsam tips gathered on Round Knob. 
An exactly similar one was completed for Elsie. 

I have enough linen for another pillow,” 
mused Sally. I wonder if I had better make 
one for Uncle Caleb. Their twin beds might 
look better if there was one for each.” 

It would please Aunt Ruth.” 

It might please Uncle Caleb,” said Sally 
thoughtfully. He is nice to me; that is, I don’t 
think he ever minds my being there, or that 
Auntie and I have good times together. It is 
funny because I always feel so close to Auntie, 
and after all, he is our great-uncle and she really 
isn’t any relation except by marriage. Yes, I 
think I will make the pillow. There is enough 
balsam left to fill it. And to-morrow, I am go¬ 
ing out in the woods and bring in a whole heap 
of creeping Jenny for wreaths. We will make 
some for the house and if they turn out well 
perhaps we could send some to the city for gifts. 
Thor says you shape them on a milk-pan turned 
upside down and Elsie says it is fun to make 
them.” 


262 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Bring some hemlock cones and black-alder 
berries for trimmings while you are about it/^ 
suggested her brother. I think we might turn 
out some swell wreaths and perhaps Aunt Kuth 
would like a few. I am going to send her a tin 
of the Ericssons’ maple syrup, but the wreaths 
would be pretty for an extra.” 

On Christmas day, the Luthers are all going 
to Rutland to take dinner with friends,” said 
Sally. “ Mrs. Luther told me, because, if they 
hadn’t accepted the invitation, she planned for 
us to be with them as we were at Thanksgiving. 
So we will have dinner by ourselves and I have 
ordered the smallest turkey in the world! You 
needn’t laugh; it will weigh only about six 
pounds and I am sure we can manage that. It is 
coming from the Damon farm and is guaranteed 
excellent eating.” 

Won’t it be a lot of trouble to cook it? ” 

Mrs. Hodges is coming the day before Christ¬ 
mas. It is her regular time and I am depending 
upon her to stuff it and get it ready for roasting. 
If I put my entire mind upon it and the fire acts 
anyhow, I ought to be able to get it cooked. I 
think it will be rather fun to have our own 
Christmas dinner, but I wish we could have just 


BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS 263 


one guest. I don’t know whom to ask, with the 
Luthers away, for we couldn’t invite all the 
Ericssons, and anyway, I think they make a good 
deal of Christmas and want to be together. I 
tried to think of somebody in Boston, an un¬ 
attached somebody to invite but I couldn’t think 
of a person who could take the long trip up 
here.” 

It is too far, and too expensive a proposi¬ 
tion,” Sandy agreed rather soberly. “We shall 
have to make shift with each other and with 
Eikki-Tik.” 

^^ext morning, Sally went out into the winter 
woods, accompanied for a short distance by her 
brother. Plenty of creeping Jenny grew not far 
away and they soon filled a grain-bag with the 
pretty evergreen vine. Then Sally went farther 
afield for cones and red berries. The supplies 
were heaped in a cold shed where they would 
keep fresh until wanted. 

Sandy’s fingers proved expert, and before 
many days every window in Kobin Hollow had 
its circle of green tied with red ribbon and six 
large wreaths lay ready to send to Mrs. Hopkins. 

“ I used to love the Christmas wreaths in the 
Boston market,” said Sally. “ I always liked to 


264 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


go down there and prowl around the booths. 
These are simply lovely with their wee cones and 
the bittersweet berries. I know Auntie will be 
pleased. Now, I want to make a Christmas-tree 
for the birds.’’ 

^‘All right,” said Sandy, ‘^but if for birds, 
why not for Kikki-Tik? Or are you planning to 
let the birds be his celebration? ” 

You ought to be ashamed. As though my 
sweet kit would look at a bird! Rikki-Tik will 
have a present. I bought it for him in Rutland, 
but I want to put out seeds and suet for the birds 
because Dagmar is doing it. They saved sheaves 
of oats from the harvesting to tie in the trees 
and to the gate-posts of the fence. Gram says 
they always do it in Norway and there isn’t a 
peasant so poor that he doesn’t share with the 
birds at Christmas. 

Dagmar and Oscar are doing another inter¬ 
esting thing,” Sally went on. On Christmas 
day every animal on the farm is to have a double 
feed of whatever it likes best. The children have 
taken turnips and washed them and carved them 
into roses, a Christmas rose, Dagmar says, for 
each cow in the barn. They have to make twenty 
roses. And the four horses, in addition to extra 


BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS 265 


oats, will each have a bunch of carrots, washed 
and cut into flowers. Dagmar and Oscar are 
very busy because Thor isn’t helping them this 
year. Every minute he gets from work or school 
he spends building his radio.” 

It is lucky his father is interested, for Thor 
really has a lot on his hands.” 

Mr. Ericsson is not only paying for the parts, 
but helping hook it up. Of course, you lent a 
hand at flrst, but Thor doesn’t have to do it all. 
I may be late home to-night because we have to 
rehearse those angels, but you won’t mind be¬ 
cause Thor is coming. I can take that box of 
wreaths to the post-office; it isn’t very heavy.” 

Sally carried the box to the village, but had to 
engage the services of Oscar to bring back the 
numerous packages accumulated there for Robin 
Hollow. The world began to seem Christmas-y 
and festive as she noticed the brave decorations 
of the little shops. 

Christmas fell on Tuesday and the pageant 
was to take place on the preceding Sunday even¬ 
ing. Sandy went to church in the morning, for 
the flrst time since coming to Still River, but 
thought it wiser to omit the evening entertain¬ 
ment. 


266 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally declined an invitation to spend the night 
at the parsonage, and came home with the Erics¬ 
sons about half-past ten to find her brother still 
amusing himself with the radio, and enjoying a 
concert in Chicago. He shut it off to hear her 
account of the entertainment. 

First and most important,’’ she began, Mrs. 
Ericsson has invited us to come for their tree 
and celebration to-morrow evening. I said I was 
sure you would feel able to come, and that we 
were both delighted. We are invited at seven. 

About the entertainment,—I was glad you 
didn’t try to go, though you would have enjoyed 
the way things went wrong. Do you know, I 
believe it is a mistake to try to have a service 
that is intended to be reverent, and have many 
children in it. They don’t mean to be funny, but 
you can never tell what they are going to do, 
and it is sure to be unexpected. 

To begin with, the air grew close and stuffy 
so I was thankful you were out of it. And the 
audience, Sandy! Honestly, they looked as 
though we had dug up the graves to get them! 
Gramp Ericsson is young compared to some of 
the fossils that turned out to-night. I guess 
Thor is right when he said this place is so 


EEFORE THE HOLIDAYS 267 

liealtliy that people can’t die. One man there 
was one hundred and two years old. That’s the 
truth,—Elsie says the town celebrated his one 
hundredth birthday and gave him a procession 
and a public entertainment. At least seven per¬ 
sons present were over ninety, and lots of them 
I never saw before. The place was packed. 

The first of the programme went pretty well, 
though the audience didn’t let the children sing 
alone as we planned, but joined in all the hymns. 
That didn’t matter so much, though of course 
they weren’t expected to do it. Then a man 
played a cornet solo. They had to let him, for 
Elsie said he would do it whether anybody was 
willing or not. It was pretty bad, though lots 
of them didn’t know how bad, but right in the 
middle. Jack Luther, who was supposed to be on 
the other side of the stage, helping Elsie, said in 
my ear, ‘ The best thing that man can do with 
that cornet is to take it out and bury it.’ 

“ I nearly laughed aloud, so I was about as 
bad as the rest. Then Mrs. Cornell sang a solo. 
I never heard such a voice except the foghorn at 
Monhegan! Sandy, she let out a yip that started 
the pews! 

Then we came to the pageant. I do think it 


268 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


k 


is a wonder it went as well as it did, because we 
did the thing in regular ^ Alice ’ fashion—we had 
a rehearsal and then wrote the parts. Of course 
the curtain stuck, though it worked perfectly at 
the dress rehearsal. All the boys had on new 
shoes and clattered like a drove of cattle. It 
was distracting. 

“ Harry Damon forgot his part and stood there 
on the platform and shook his fist at his mother. 
After I had her all dressed, Fanny Boss sat down 
and crumpled her wings. She was a messy-look- 
ing angel. And try as we might, neither Elsie 
nor I could make those wings stay in place. Be¬ 
fore the angels went on the stage, they looked so 
nice, all except Fanny, who looked like a dis¬ 
sipated butterfly, but the moment the curtain 
went up their wings began to sag at different 
angles. And Elsie and I had made our throats 
sore telling them to hold their shoulders stiff. 
Sandy,^’ ended Sally tragically, I am com¬ 
pletely worn out with angels! 

Earthly ones seem difficult to manage,” said 
Sandy laughing. 

Except Dagmar. She was perfect, and oh! 
she did look so lovely and dignified. I could 
have hugged her—I did, after she came off the 


BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS 269 


stage. Well, I suppose it was a success; Elsie 
says it was, but it was disconcerting to have 
mothers prompting from the audience and to 
have the people laughing at the children when 
we expected them to be thinking of what it 
meant.’^ 

I have no doubt it was a success, and if the 
people enjoyed it, why feel disturbed about the 
things that went wrong? Very likely nobody in 
the audience knew it.” 

I suppose that is true,” Sally agreed. But 
I am glad it is over. And on Christmas morning 
we will listen-in to the service in some city 
church and that will be lovely enough to make 
up for the shortcomings of this.” 

Monday was a very busy day for Sally. 
Though Mrs. Hodges took the burden of dinner 
preparation from her shoulders, Sally had a hun¬ 
dred things to do, last cards to direct, packages 
to wrap, two trips to the village for forgotten 
necessities. Oscar drove up with a number of 
parcel-post packages, and heaps of letters. 

Sally left her brother while she ran down to 
the parsonage with Elsie’s pillow and the big box 
of candy which she and Sandy were jointly pre¬ 
senting to the whole family. 


270 ROBIN HOLLOW 

She came back after dark. Eobin Hollow 
showed a wreath and a lighted candle in each of 
its century-old windows and the effect against 
background of mountain and starry sky was like 
a lovely Christmas card. What matter if only 
Sandy, herself and possibly Thor saw its golden 
windows? No spot too distant, no home too 
humble to stand in radiant silence before the 
mystery of that night. 


CHAPTER XIX 


CHRISTMAS AT ROBIN HOLLOW 

Christmas at Ericssons^ farm began some 
weeks before, with a thorough cleaning of an al¬ 
ways clean house. Very early its mistress began 
to plan a series of elaborate cakes and special 
breads, some of which were made only at this 
season. In spite of her many years. Gram was 
still active and efficient, and certain kinds of 
puff paste only she could make. Dagmar stoned 
raisins, sliced citron, beat eggs and proved her¬ 
self a capable little helper. Oscar hung around 
the kitchen on the slightest excuse. Gram was 
more than usually full of stories and reminis¬ 
cences of her girlhood and even Gramp occasion¬ 
ally delivered himself of some fragment worth 
gleaning. 

When Sally and Sandy arrived on Christmas 
eve they were greeted warmly by Mrs. Ericsson 
and Gram with the rest of the household smil¬ 
ingly hovering in the background. Sally hardly 

crossed the threshold before she stopped to ex- 

271 


272 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


claim and admire, because both were dressed in 
the costume of the Hardanger women. 

What, Dagmar, too! she cried, delighted at 
sight of the little girl, an exact replica of mother 
and grandmother. 

Gram made it,” Dagmar explained proudly, 
displaying the blue serge skirt that hung to her 
ankles, elaborately trimmed with rows of black 
velvet braid interspersed by rows of silver. She 
wore a white chemisette with full sleeves, and a 
red flannel bodice embroidered in white, black 
and silver. Large silver ornaments adorned the 
bodice and the wide belt that completed the cos¬ 
tume. Her hair in two braids was covered by a 
handkerchief which she presently cast aside, but 
the two women each wore a curious and becom¬ 
ing white linen head-dress something like the coif 
of a nun. 

Explaining that these were worn only by mar¬ 
ried women, Mrs. Ericsson half apologized for 
her appearance. 

It pleases the old people and my husband, 
so we get the dresses out each Christmas. But 
you do not know my Sigrid. She is home for 
the festival.” 

Mrs. Ericsson presented her married daughter, 


CHRISTMAS 


273 


a fair young woman with the lovely calm face 
of a Madonna. To their surprise, her husband 
proved to be a young chemist employed at the 
University of Vermont, a man whom Sandy knew 
slightly. 

Mrs. Ericsson has spoken of her married 
daughter,^’ thought Sally, but they never said 
much about her, and never that she wns so beau¬ 
tiful. Isn’t Dagmar sweet? And baby Hilma! ” 

Sally had spent gay or busy Christmas eves 
but never one like that which followed. Pres¬ 
ently the whole party filed into the other room 
where a tall tree occupied one corner, gay with 
glittering ornaments and strings of corn and 
cranberries and hung with gifts. 

The children exclaimed and Hilma, from her 
mother’s arms, stretched both hands, but no one 
approached. Mr. Ericsson drew the bow across 
his fiddle-strings and the family began to sing 
Christmas hymns that were unfamiliar to Sally. 
Though their eyes were bent on the tree neither 
Dagmar nor Oscar exhibited the slightest im¬ 
patience. Then Mr. Ericsson took the Bible and 
read aloud the story of the holy night. After 
the reading, two or three songs of Norway com¬ 
pleted the' ceremony. 


274 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


During the fun and distribution of gifts that 
followed, Mrs. Ericsson slipped into the kitchen 
where Sally, talking with Sigrid, caught sight 
of her pretty costume flitting back and forth. 
Sigrid, so she told Sally, was graduated from 
Normal School, taught a year and then married. 
Intensely interested in her brother Thor, she was 
planning that he should live with them in Bur¬ 
lington and attend the State university. 

^^He has told me how much your brother is 
helping him,” she informed Sally. Carl, that^s 
my husband, wants him to come there, but Thor 
has his mind set on Harvard.” 

Sandy doesn’t want him to try Harvard,” 
said Sally. He says it is too big. He wants 
Thor to go to some smaller college and leave 
Harvard for post-graduate work. Your plan 
sounds just the thing.” 

“We have room for him,” said Sigrid, and 
proceeded to tell Sally of her little home and of 
the fun of entertaining, in a small way, their 
friends among the young faculty. Sally was 
charmed with Sigrid; she was so simple and so 
unaffected in manner. Presently her family 
called upon her to sing alone and Sigrid did so 
in a beautiful, true soprano. 


CHRISTMAS 


275 


Before long Mrs. Ericsson summoned them to 
the other room where a white-clad table bore an 
astonishing variety of cakes and puff paste. In 
the centre stood a tall silver tankard, rather 
bent and battered but rubbed to the last degree 
of brightness. It was curiously and somewhat 
crudely engraved with odd characters. 

That cup is very, very old,^’ Sigrid told the 
wondering Sally, so old that nobody knows 
where it came from in the beginning. The in¬ 
scription is Runic, the old Norse symbols, you 
know. It is supposed to have been dug up in one 
of the Norwegian burial mounds.’^ 

It must be very valuable,’^ said Sally, much 
impressed by this heirloom. 

I suppose it would be for a museum,^’ as¬ 
sented Sigrid, but Father thinks the world of it. 

t 

It goes always to the oldest son, so some day it 
will belong to Thor. We use it only at Christ¬ 
mas and at Easter.’’ 

The old tankard was filled with a specially- 
made drink, warm, sweet, and spicy. Originally 
it had been passed from hand to hand by men 
who could take a mighty draught, but in these 
degenerate' days, served as a bowl from which 
Mrs. Ericsson with a silver ladle, also ancestral. 


276 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


filled a small glass for every member of tbe party. 
Standing in a circle, each, touched glasses with 
^ either neighbor, and having raised the glasses 
high, solemnly drank a greeting to Christmas. 

Coffee at this time of night! ’’ thought Sally 
as a cup was handed her, black coffee at that! 
Well, one must be polite. I hope I’m not ex¬ 
pected to eat some of all those fourteen kinds of 
cake and cookies, but I’ll do my best. At the 
worst, it will be a lovely death to die. 

Wasn’t it a nice evening? ” she asked Sandy 
as they walked home arm in arm at eleven. 

Yes, I had a fine time. It was so pleasant 
and friendly. I feel very much touched that they 
asked us, Sally, because it was really a most in¬ 
timate family celebration. I don’t believe it is 
one to which they readily invite strangers.” 

Wasn’t it sweet of them?” Sally agreed. 

And how dignified Mr. Ericsson looked as he 
stood reading the story of the first Christmas. 
I think they are a remarkable family. Sigrid is 
truly lovely to look at, and she seemed so nice 
when I talked with her. She has married a man 
who is already a college instructor and may be 
a professor some day.” 

Thor will go as far,” said Sandy. Really, 


CHRISTMAS 


277 


I liave never encountered anything more charm¬ 
ing in its way than the hospitality shown us to¬ 
night. I thought all the evening of that expres¬ 
sion, the ^ beauty of simplicity.’ ” 

It was dear,” said Sally. And don’t you 
love to think of the oats put out for the birds, 
and every animal on the farm with extra food, 
and the horses with their carrot flowers, and a 
turnip rose for each and every cow? ” 

I do,” her brother agreed. And extra bones 
for the dog, and a fresh egg for the cat that likes 
it and cream for the one that doesn’t! How de¬ 
lightfully Mr. Ericsson played for you all to 
dance. I could hardly hold back from taking a 
turn myself.” 

I could dance now,” said Sally, skipping as 
she clung to his arm. Look at the stars, Sandy. 
Did you ever see so many? The Milky Way is 
like a solid veil. I could admire them all night 
if it wasn’t so cold, but I will break it to you 
that my nose is slowly freezing. You must admit 
that a noseless Sally would disgrace Robin Hol¬ 
low, so we’d better hustle in at once.” 

Christmas morning dawned cold and clear 
with a sharp tingle in the air and the mercury 
below zero. Every feeling of loneliness had left 


278 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sally. Slie exchanged greetings with her brother 
and went gayly about her morning duties. 
Kikki-Tik—the greedy kitten—breakfasted upon 
cream and was promised turkey for dinner. 

They had agreed not to open any packages un¬ 
til after attending church by radio, and stuck to 
the agreement, though Sally found herself cast¬ 
ing curious glances at the big heap which 
awaited examination. Both she and Sandy had 
many friends and it looked as though none of 
the many had forgotten the two in exile. 

Sandy started early to tune in, so as to hear 
the entire service, but at first could get only 
fragmentary bits of broadcasting from near-by 
stations, and none was that of a church. At 
last he got in touch with a quartet singing a 
Christmas hymn. 

“ How is this? ” he asked his sister. 

Well-l,” assented Sally dubiously, it is bet¬ 
ter than nothing but I think youVe got Schenec¬ 
tady and I wanted to hear the service at the 
cathedral in Boston.’’ 

“ I’ll try again,” said Sandy, turning the dials. 

We may be a bit early for St. Paul’s.” 

The quartet faded into silence, broken by snaps 
from wireless and at length a sort of remote 


CHRISTMAS 


279 


squeal which, meant that they were nearly in 
touch with some station. Sandy moved the con¬ 
trols cautiously and the next second the little 
living-room of Robin Hollow, hundreds of miles 
from Boston, was filled with organ music. 
Faint and far away at first, Sandy was soon in 
complete tune, and the voices of men and boys 
rose in the triumphant processional: 

‘‘Light on thy hills, Jerusalem! 

The Saviour now is born: 

More bright on Bethlelem’s golden plains 
Breaks the first Christmas morn.” 

Sandy smiled at his sister who settled back in 
complete satisfaction. 

So distinctly did every word of music, service 
and sermon come to them in that remote cottage 
half-way up Round Knob that it was not difficult 
to feel one’s self part of a worshipping throng. 
Indeed, Sandy had only a tender thought for 
reverent little Sally, when she presently knelt 
with those who were kneeling in the distant ca¬ 
thedral. 

“ We are in for everything but the collection,” 
he said when the station had signed off. “ What 
more could one want? ” 

” sighed Sally. “ Isn’t it just 


“ Nothing 



280 ROBIN HOLLOW 

unbelievable that we can have a thing like this? 
Now, I feel as though it were truly Christmas. 
I must look at that wee turkey, Sandy, and then 
we will open our packages. Did you notice how 
the birds were coming for the food on our Christ¬ 
mas-tree? ’’ 

Sandy had noticed. While listening to the ser¬ 
mon, he counted seven varieties of feathered 
guests. 

Sandy, what did you do it for? ’’ cried Sally 
a few minutes later. Oh, Sandy dear, you 
shouldn’t have bought this for me! I love it, oh, 
I love it—it’s exactly what I most wanted, but 
indeed, I could have managed without it, and 
you shouldn’t have spent so much money on 
me! ” 

It is precious little to do for you when I 
think of what you are doing for me. Here I 
have dragged you off into the country away from 
all the fun and parties and dances you are used 
to, and made you a nurse and a regular maid- 
of-all-work. You positively need a fur coat in 
this climate. I know that from my appreciation 
of Uncle Caleb’s. As for affording it, I bought 
it with some extra money that came in, which 
I really wasn’t expecting. Last summer I sent 


CHRISTMAS 


281 


three or four articles to a New York weekly, and 
after a long delay, they not only took them but 
paid well. I can afford every hair of that fur 
coat, Sally, and I want you to wear it and keep 
warm in it.’’ 

I never saw such a perfect beauty! ” sighed 

Sally with intense satisfaction, surveying her 

slender little self in the soft brown fur. It 

fits to perfection. I suppose Aunt Kuth chose 

it for vou.” 

«/ 

“ Yes,” said Sandy, and she did a good job.” 

He continued to survey the garment with one 
eyebrow lifted sceptically. Either Mrs. Hopkins 
had chanced on a remarkable bargain or, as 
Sandy suspected, she had chosen the coat she 
wanted for Sally, regardless of the amount of 
her nephew’s check. 

Sally continued to admire and exclaim and 
thank him, pirouetting about the room in gay 
satisfaction. Her brother’s conjecture of Aunt 
Ruth’s choice became conviction when Sally 
presently discovered a pair of fur gloves marked 
from Uncle Caleb, and a stylish little fur hat to 
match the coat, with a gay flower fastened on 
one side, which came as her aunt’s own gift. 

Goodness! ” sighed Sally. “ This outfit is 


282 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


suitable for a princess! I can’t believe I am 
Sarah Allison. Isn’t this the dinkiest little hat 
you ever saw? Oh, you don’t know how it cheers 
me to have a new hat! If, every time I burn 
something while cooking, I could only rush out 
and buy a new hat—you can’t think what an up¬ 
lift it would give my soul! Now, whenever that 
old stove acts up, I shall put this on and forget 
it all.” 

So if I see you getting dinner in the fur hat, 
I shall know the fire is misbehaving,” laughed 
Sandy. It is a mighty nifty outfit and I’m 
obliged to Auntie and Uncle Caleb for making it 
complete.” 

The mercury may do its worst; I shall be as 
warm as toast,” declared Sally, laying the coat 
aside with a final pat, and a kiss upon Sandy’s 
forehead. 

She watched anxiously his opening of her 
gifts: a knitted helmet and socks for use in his 
outdoor bed, and a pair of sheepskin-lined leather 
overshoes to wear as he spent each pleasant 
morning on the sunny porch. She and Elsie had 
hunted them up in Rutland, Elsie having spoken 
of the comfort given her by a similar pair. 

Sandy was pleased and his appreciation sat- 


CHRISTMAS 


283 


isfied Sally. Mrs. Hopkins sent ker nepkew a 
big new woolly blanket-wrapper and tke pocket 
keld an envelope witk an enclosure over wkick 
Sandy looked serious. 

It is a ckeck from Uncle Caleb/’ ke said du¬ 
biously. Of course ke means it kindly. I sup¬ 
pose I can’t refuse, because it would kurt Aunt 
Rutk, and be ungrateful besides, but I don’t need 
any kelp.” 

Tkis is a nice note ke kas written,” said 
Sally, reading it over ker brotker’s skoulder. 

Sandy, you can’t send it back.” 

No,” admitted ker brotker soberly, but I 
would be better pleased if ke kad kalved or even 
quartered tke amount.” 

I don’t suppose eitker sum makes any dif¬ 
ference to kim. Personally, I am glad ke felt 
like doing it. I never tkougkt Uncle Caleb ap¬ 
preciated you, Sandy, but of course you are not 
so nice to kim as you are to me.” 

Sandy was not convinced, but could not deny 
tkat tke note accompanying tke ckeck was in¬ 
tended to be kind. Witk a sigk, ke put botk into 
kis pocketbook. 

I really feel askamed to kave so many pres¬ 
ents,” admitted Sally wken all tke packages were 


284 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


opened. I don’t deserve to liave all my friends 
remember me like this. Look at all this candy! 
Eighteen pounds! And you don’t care much for 
it.” 

I see where Sally gains a pound a week, if 
she doesn’t completely ruin her digestion.” 

‘‘Well, luckily I don’t have to eat it all. I 
can work some off on Oscar and Dagmar, and 
we will serve it regularly every evening Thor 
comes.” 

Rikki-Tik had been enjoying himself thor¬ 
oughly with a catnip mouse presented by Elsie 
and Sally’s catnip bat, fastened by an elastic 
cord to the knob of the secretary drawer. He 
also investigated every package opened, stuck his 
little pink nose inquiringly into each box of 
candy, and scratched and rolled among the pa¬ 
pers on the floor. Completely tired out, he com¬ 
posed himself for a nap upon Sally’s new coat. 

The “ smallest turkey in the world ” Avas send¬ 
ing savory odors through Robin Hollow. Sally 
moaned softly over a slightly scorched spot on 
its breastbone, but otherwise had cause to feel 
proud, for its joints fell apart at a touch of the 
carving-knife. Mrs. Hodges had made cran¬ 
berry sauce the previous day and left the vege- 


CHRISTMAS 285 

tables ready to cook, so that Sally’s Christmas 
dinner was not difficult. 

The dessert is a surprise,” she announced, 
also a present. Mrs. Luther made us a little 
plum pudding when she made her big one. It 
came in a chocolate tin and smells, oh! so good! ” 

It tastes as good as it smells,” declared 
Sandy presently. 

^^We will have our choice of the eighteen 
pounds of candy to finish our dinner, also coffee, 
as a most unusual treat. I haven’t served after- 
dinner coffee before in Eobin Hollow.” 

Sally was interrupted by the telephone bell. 
It was Sigrid,” she reported. In about half 
an hour they are all going out on skiis or snow- 
shoes and want me to go with them. If I do, will 
you take a nap? ” 

Eikki-Tik and I shall both need sleep after 
this dinner,” Sandy assured her. 

Late that afternoon when Sally returned, 
glowing and rosy from a tramp in the frost on 
Uncle Alexander’s snowshoes, she found her 
brother lying on the sitting-room couch, Eikki- 
Tik cuddled on his shoulder and purring sleepily. 

Such fun! ” said Sally. The whole family 
except Gramp and Gram and Hilma. My! you 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


286 

should see Thor and Mr. Ericsson. Thor says 
his father used to win prizes for ski-jumping, but 
Thor himself isn’t far behind. Sigrid and Oscar 
had skiis, too, but the rest of us were on snow- 
shoes. It was so lovely in the woods with the 
trees, and the snow marked with cunning tracks 
of rabbits and mice, and even foxes. We enjoyed 
every second and I wish you had been there. 
But we couldn’t stay forever, nice as it was, so 
when the sun set, as Dagmar put it, we ^ came 
gleeing home.’ ” 

Sally sat down before the fire where the burn¬ 
ing wood cast wavering shadows on the ceiling 
with its carved beams. It lent to each squirrel a 
deceptive appearance of life. The Christmas can¬ 
dles again cast their radiance far over white 
fields and woods. 

“ It has been a nice Christmas,” said Sandy 
from the couch. You haven’t felt lonely, have 
you? ” 

“ No, indeed,” said Sally stoutly. I was 
thinking that a year ago I should have fainted 
on the spot if anybody had told me that to-day 
I should cook a Christmas dinner! Well, I not 
only cooked it, but it was fit to eat, if I do say it. 
And Sandy, all day long I have had such a funny 


CHRISTMAS 


287 


feeling about tbe bouse. It is as though Robin 
Hollow were having the time of its life and try¬ 
ing to say so. I could fairly hear it purring 
with satisfaction and happiness because we are 
here and are making it a home.’^ 


CHAPTER XX 


SANDY^S BAD LUCK 

Lessons at the parsonage were omitted until 
the Luther boys went back to Amherst, where 
Jack was a senior and Andrew a freshman, but 
Sally saw a good deal of all her friends. For a 
week the Ericssons held more or less of a car¬ 
nival, and there were bacon bats and hot- 
dog picnics,’’ when a gay company of young peo¬ 
ple skiied or snowshoed some distance and shared 
an outdoor feast. Sally gave a radio party at 
which considerable candy was consumed, and 
not a day passed when some of the Luthers did 
not visit Robin Hollow. 

Sandy was due for another report at Rutland, 

and Jack volunteered to go with him. Sally had 

cause to bless the telephone when an unexpected 

and heavy snowstorm so deranged the train 

schedule that the two young men were obliged to 

stay overnight in town. Strange to say, Sally 

did not feel lonely nor afraid when she hung 

up the receiver and knew that she must spend 

288 


SANDY’S BAD LUCK 


289 


the night alone. Should she struggle down to 
the farm there would be a welcome for her and 
a willing half of Dagmar’s bed, but though she 
considered the thought, she dismissed it and de¬ 
cided to stay at home. 

The old house creaked and snapped, protected 
though it was by the sheltering hill behind, and 
the mercury was far below zero, though Sally 
could not see just how low. 

It is too cold to snow like this,” she remarked 
aloud, but all the same it kept on snowing. 
Either the storm had affected the radio or the 
battery was weak, for she could get little but 
intermittent wireless from the outer world. In 
disgust, she stoked her fires and went to bed, to 
read till sleepy, with Rikki-Tik as a bedfellow. 

Next morning the storm had stopped, but 
Sandy did not reach home until mid-afternoon, 
due to the tracks being blocked by drifts. 

Dr. West says I have made fine progress,” he 
reported. He thinks I can begin to take a little 
more exercise, and I needn’t report for two 
months.” 

Sally was delighted by this news but thought 
her brother looked tired. 

It was horribly stuffy on the train,” he ad- 


290 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


mitted, ^‘and I didn^t sleep mucli last niglit. 
My room in the hotel was well enough but hot as 
Tophet, and I am so used to fresh air that I miss 
it like the dickens. I’ll be all right to-morrow.” 

Sally devoutly hoped so, but the next day both 
had to admit that either in hotel or in train, 
Sandy had encountered a germ. No doubt he 
was in for a heavy cold. 

Bad luck,” Sandy admitted, “ but it is my 
first since we came to Kobin Hollow. I shall 
shake it off, so don’t worry. Keep away as much 
as you can. I don’t want you to catch it.” 

I’m not afraid of catching it,” said Sally, 
but she stood for a long time by the kitchen win¬ 
dow, looking soberly at snow-covered Bound 
Knob. 

Still, Dr. West told Sandy he was distinctly 
better,” she thought. If we can only break it 
up, it may not do any harm.” 

Her brother let her fuss with tablets and 
sprays, mustard foot-baths and hot lemonade, 
and his unusual meekness would have struck a 
more experienced nurse as ominous. Fortu¬ 
nately, Sally did not grasp its significance, nor 
realize, as did Sandy, that her efforts were use¬ 
less. 


SANDY’S BAD LUCK 


291 


Next morning he declared himself no worse, 
but looked ill and tired, and by afternoon, his 
face was flushed and he seemed drowsy. Still, 
he was so quiet that Sally thought him resting 
and forbore to disturb him. 

She had forgotten that Thor was due for a 
lesson and he surprised her while flnishing the 
supper dishes. 

Thor, I meant to telephone you,’’ she ex¬ 
claimed. “ Sandy has a cold and I don’t believe 
he feels like working this evening, but now you 
are here, he will like to see you.” 

I’m sorry he has a cold,” said Thor, coming 
to warm his hands over the stove. I suppose 
he got it sleeping in a steam-heated room. I al¬ 
ways catch an awful cold when I do it.” 

Sally had never heard this theory of colds. 

He doesn’t feel like himself,” she said, after a 
pause to consider it. I hope he will be better 
in the morning.” 

Thor went into the sitting-room and Sally oc¬ 
cupied herself with household tasks for ten min¬ 
utes longer. Just as she was finishing, Thor 
came back, looking serious. 

Sally,” he said hesitatingly, “ I think Sandy’s 
feeling pretty mean. I don’t believe he ought to 


292 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


sleep on tliat cold porch, to-night. He looks to 
me sort of feverish, and it won’t do for him to 
catch more cold.” 

Sally was about to complete her evening work 
by letting the water out of the pump. She 
dropped the handle and turned to face Thor, who 
was looking directly at her with eyes full of 
sympathy and a face more serious than she had 
ever seen it. 

I tried to talk to him, but he is sleepy. 
Sally, I guess he can’t decide things for himself 
just now.” 

Sally gave him one glance and leaned against 
the sink, rigid with fear and dismay, every par¬ 
ticle of color leaving her face. 

He will be all right if he doesn’t catch any 
more cold,” said Thor hastily, ^‘but he’s got 
about all he can carry. Don’t you think we’d 
better bring his bed into the sitting-room? He 
can have fresh air there without so much danger 
of getting uncovered and chilled.” 

With an effort, Sally pulled herself together. 

Just let me see him a minute,” she said. 

Thor waited in silence. He had found Sandy 
feverish and drowsy, difficult to rouse and 
breathing fast and irregularly. He suspected 


SANDY’S BAD LUCK 293 

that the change had come while Sally was occu¬ 
pied in the kitchen. 

I think you are right/Thor,” Sally said when 
she came back. Sandy is worse. He wasn^t 
like this when I left him.’’ 

Thor was conscious of relief, so far as Sally 
was concerned, for though pale and evidently 
frightened, she was holding herself in hand. 

Don’t you want me to telephone Ma to 
come? ” he asked at once. 

Won’t it trouble her? ” 

She can leave baby with Gram. I know she’d 
want to help you.” 

Then ask her, please.” 

Thor turned to the telephone and Sally went 
back into the other room. In a moment he fol¬ 
lowed. 

Ma will be up right away. Let’s tackle that 
bed and bring it in here.” 

Sally agreed, with one glance at her brother’s 
face. His quick, shallow breathing seemed to 
her unbearable. 

Put on a coat,” said Thor. It’s cold as 
Greenland.” 

Stripping the blankets from the porch bed, 
they placed the mattress before the Idtchen stove. 


294 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Then Sally held the lantern while Thor, with a 
heavy iron bed-key, which he found as though 
by instinct, took the old-fashioned cherry frame 
apart, and carried it piece by piece into the liv¬ 
ing-room. Sally shoved aside the spinning- 
wheel. 

Put it here,’’ she directed. Then that win¬ 
dow can be opened without a draft.” 

Sandy appeared oblivious of what they did. 
Once he opened his heavy eyes, but closed them 
without comment. When the frame was set up, 
and the mattress thoroughly warmed, Sally 
made the bed with clothing which had not been 
exposed to the cold of the porch and slipped into 
it both soapstone slabs and a hot-water bottle 
besides. 

Now you go wait for Ma and I’ll help him 
get to bed,” said Thor gently. 

Sally went without a word. She took a lid 
off the kitchen stove, poking and stirring the 
coals without being in the least aware of what 
she was doing. She was startled when Mrs. 
Ericsson opened the door without knocking and 
came in. 

I am so sorry Sandy’s sick,” she said. But 
don’t worry, Sally.” 


SANDY’S BAD LUCK 295 

He’s pretty sick,” said Sally quietly. “ It is 
good of you to come, Mrs. Ericsson.” 

Of course I would come to kelp you,” said 
the older woman and though she offered no 
physical caress, her tone was one. ‘‘ I’ve seen a 
heap of sickness and nursed lots of people 
through some hard times. I’ll just take a look 
at Sandy and see what’s wanted before Thor 
goes.” 

Left alone, Sally alternately prayed desper¬ 
ately and .poked the fire until she realized that 
she was in danger of extinguishing it. With a 
sort of superstitious feeling she hastened to re¬ 
pair the damage. 

Sandy has a mighty bad cold,” Mrs. Ericsson 
agreed. If he had been well before he got it, 
I would say he only needed a few days in bed, 
but we don’t want to take any chances. Don’t 
you think you’d better ’phone Dr. Atkins? ” 

I suppose the doctor in Kutland couldn’t 
come,” said Sally hesitatingly. 

I don’t believe he would, especially this time 
of night. He can’t drive and there’s no train.” 

I suppose the only thing is to get the Still 
River doctor,” said Sally, realizing that under 
the circumstances she could not expect a busy 


296 ROBIN HOLLOW 

city specialist to come. You like him, don’t 
you? ” 

Yes,” said Mrs. Ericsson. He is kind and 
always so interested.” 

Sally hesitated. She thought of this unknown 
physician merely as a country doctor, probably 
not up-to-date in methods, in any case hardly 
equipped to deal with so precious a life as that 
of her only brother. She did not know his long 
record of healing, his years spent in unselfish 
service for others. 

Thor noticed her hesitation. With his natural 
delicacy of perception quickened in anything 
concerning Sally, because he thought her the 
prettiest and pluckiest girl he had ever met, even 
Elsie excluded, he realized what would best meet 
the situation. 

Telephone Dr. West,” he said. “ I don’t be¬ 
lieve he can come, but he will tell you what to 
do.” 

I would rather,” said Sally quickly, relieved 
to have her secret inclination strengthened by 
this approval. 

By great good fortune, Sally got her connection 
without delay and found Dr. West in his office. 

Too bad,” he commented on hearing her 


SANDY’S BAD LUCK 


297 


story. That is a shame, for he showed marked 
improvement the other day.’^ He asked a num¬ 
ber of rapid questions, which Sally answered as 
best she could. 

He can shake off a heavy cold,’^ said the 
doctor, but we donT want to run any risk of 
pneumonia. I wouldnT take the chance. Miss 
Allison. I^m sorry that I canT take charge of 
the case; I would if I could, but it is out of the 
question. There’s a good man near you. Dr. 
Atkins. Better send for him at once. You can 
feel confidence in Atkins. Just do whatever he 
tells you. Have you any one to help you? ” 
Yes,” Sally assured him as she thanked him 
for his advice. 

Dr. Atkins came sooner than expected. It 
chanced that he telephoned to his home from a 
house a mile the other side of Kobin Hollow and 
his wife immediately reported the waiting call. 
Sally liked him at first sight, liked the way he 
greeted Thor and called Mrs. Ericsson by her 
first name. 

She told him briefly the condition of things 
while the doctor warmed his hands and looked at 
her with kind, tired eyes. 

She liked, too, the way he sat down by Sandy 


298 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


and gently took Ms hand. Sandy roused enough 
to answer a few questions coherently and to sub¬ 
mit to a careful examination of heart and lungs. 

In his presence, the doctor was non-committal. 

Better stay in bed for the present,’^ he decreed, 
but in the kitchen gave Sally and Mrs. Ericsson 
more detailed information. 

It isn’t pneumonia yet. Can you stay here 
to-night, Anna? ” 

Yes, Doctor,” said Mrs. Ericsson. Thor 
and I will both stay if we are needed.” 

Good. Now, don’t worry,” he said, turning 
to Sally, who stood with white, anxious face. 

Your brother has a very severe cold, but if it 
weren’t for his previous condition of health, there 
would be no special cause for alarm. If we can 
prevent pneumonia, we shall come out all right. 
I believe Mary Hodges has been helping you? ” 

Sally assented. 

Mary is a born nurse,” went on Dr. Atkins. 

I’ll arrange with her to come to-morrow morn¬ 
ing and look after that boy. I think she will be 
willing and you’d better have her.” 

She is fond of Sandy,” said Sally. Prob¬ 
ably she will come if you think I can’t manage 
by myself.” 


SANDY’S BAD LUCK 


299 


Better have somebody accustomed to nurs¬ 
ing/’ said Dr. Atkins. It would trouble your 
brother to have you burdened. Anna, here, is a 
host in herself, but she has a baby and her family 
to look after, while Mary lives with a sister who 
can spare her in an emergency. Don’t you think 
it would be wise to have her? ” he ended gently. 

Whatever is best for Sandy,” Sally agreed. 
She listened dry-eyed to his further directions, 
received by Mrs. Ericsson with a silent nod of 
comprehension. 

I’ll come again to-morrow,” he assured Sally. 

The next twenty-four hours will tell the story 
—^then we will draw a long breath.” 

Sally never forgot those hours, lengthened in¬ 
deed, to nearer forty-eight. She went through 
them in a sort of daze, doing well and thoroughly 
whatever was asked or whatever she saw to dp. 
Mrs. Hodges capably took charge, her whirlwind 
methods strangely subdued, her toil-worn hands 
surprisingly gentle. She seemed to know by in¬ 
stinct just what would make Sandy more com¬ 
fortable. She comforted Sally by tales of men 
far more ill who arose in due time and fared 
forth to do the spring ploughing. 

Sandy himself was pathetically patient, but 


300 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


liad a smile and a whispered word for Sally 
whenever he realized that she was near, but much 
of the time he lay in a sort of stupor. 

I wonder whether I am doing wrong not to 
telegraph Auntie,’’ Sally thought on the third 
evening while occupied in making gruel. I can’t 
see what good it will do, and it will only worry 
her. Mrs. Luther has been here twice to-day; 
she thinks Sandy is a little better. He is cer¬ 
tainly quiet and comfortable just now. I sup¬ 
pose I had better go up-stairs and rest as Mrs. 
Hodges wants me to do. She promised to speak 
if there was the slightest change.” 

Sally went up to her bed for the first time since 
her brother’s illness, and though her sleep was 
restless, it was unbroken by any summons. 
When she stole down in the gray dawn, Mrs. 
Hodges was moving about the kitchen. 

Sandy’s better,” she said at once. He’s out 
of the woods so far as pewmony is concerned. I 
don’t need Doc Atkins to tell me that. Now, for 
the land’s sake, what is there to cry about? And 
you’ve been so brave all through the wust of 
it!” 

Sally’s tears were mixed with laughter at Mrs. 
Hodges’ amazed expression. 


SANDY’S BAD LUCK 301 

I am crying just for happiness/’ she choked. 

You’re sure^ aren’t you? ” 

Open the door a mite and listen to the peace¬ 
ful way he’s breathin’. If his lungs were fillin’ 
he couldn’t draw breath like that.” 

Dr. Atkins confirmed the good news and smiled 
with genuine satisfaction upon his patient. 

Thought better of it, did you, young man? ” 
he demanded jovially. “ I’m obliged to you for 
changing your mind. But don’t think you can 
be up and doing right away. Eight here is where 
you stay in bed till every vestige of that cold is 
gone. And the bed itself doesn’t go back on the 
porch until your temperature has been normal 
for a week. Windows open here and a fire going 
until further notice.” 

On the day that her brother sat up in bed and 
demanded a razor, Sally’s distorted world slipped 
into focus with an almost audible click. Sandy 
was his punctilious self again. She fairly 
skipped as she brought hot water, and held the 
mirror with hands unsteady with joy. 

You have had a tough time, Sally-girl,” he 
commented. 

It was pretty bad,” she admitted. 

“ But the Luthers and the Ericssons and Mrs. 


302 ROBIN HOLLOW 

Hodges stood by like the trumps they are, didn’t 
they? ” 

‘‘ They did, indeed. Almost every time I went 
into the kitchen, there sat a loaf of fresh bread 
on the table, or a custard or a jar of broth. And 
one day a very small boy I didn’t know, came 
bringing a tiny screwed-up paper bag with one 
fresh egg in it. Oh, everybody stood by me, 
Sandy! And so did Robin Hollow. The night 
you were the worst, when it was touch and go 
whether your lungs would fill or whether you 
could fight it off, I could just feel this old house 
trying to comfort me and assuring me that you 
would win out. And I want to tell you that 
Uncle Alexander’s deer have come back. I saw 
five out by the barn this morning.” 


CHAPTEK XXI 


RIKKI-TIKKI^S STONES 

“ No/’ said Mrs. Hodges, expertly inserting a 
new wick into the sitting-room lamp, you don^t 
need me now Sandy is on his feet again and 
sleepin^ out on that porch. I think myself, every 
night he spends there is temptin^ Providence, but 
if Doc Atkins says it is all right, I wash my 
hands of the consequences. When I was a girl, 
there wasn’t all this fuss about fresh air, and I 
don’t see but what people were full as healthy; 
that is, those who didn’t die young.” 

Sally, sitting in a kitchen chair with her el¬ 
bows on the table and her chin resting in both 

hands, watched the manipulation of the lamp- 

* 

wick. 

As I’ve said before, a clean lamp never 

smells,” remarked Mrs. Hodges sententiously. 

But I will say, Sally, for a girl who wasn’t 

brought up to housework, you’ve taken to it like 

a duck to water. When I fust laid eyes on you 

and Sandy, I didn’t think you’d have the spunk 

303 


304 ROBIN HOLLOW 

to stick it out. You seemed such, a little happy 
thing, used to dancin’ and pretty dresses and 
havin’ a good time in life. I said to myself: ^ She 
won’t hold out after the fust cold spell,’ but sure 
enough you did, and you done it cheerful. 
There’s nuthin’ like bein’ fond of a person to 
help you stand things as they come along, and 
when I see how much you set by your brother 
and he by you, I reasoned that p’raps, after all, 
you’d see it through.” 

You’ve been such a help to me, Mrs. Hodges,” 
said Sally with a sigh. I don’t know what I 
should have done without you, especially these 
past two weeks.” 

If I hadn’t been round, somebody else would 
have been raised up. It’s my experience that 
whenever we need a helpin’ hand it’s there for 
us to grab. 

My sister Lizzie,” Mrs. Hodges went on re¬ 
flectively, “went to a lecture once at the town 
hall, by a woman who believed in some queer way 
of thinkin’. She said it was our own fault if 
we didn’t have every last thing we wanted in 
this world, that it was lyin’ round loose, waitin’ 
for us to claim it. We could get anything we 
chose, just for the wishin’, a silk dress or money 


RIKKI-TIKKrS STONES 305 


or a rich, husband. Just make up your mind 
what you wanted and concentrate on gettin^ it 
—^that was the principle. 

Lizzie come home quite uplifted and told me 
all about it. ^All right, Lizzie,’ says I; ^your 
house needs a coat of paint mighty bad—^just put 
your thoughts on that and see if it works. If 
you can think a coat of linseed oil paint on to 
this cottage, then I’ll have some faith in the 
money cornin’ along and the rich widower turnin’ 
up.’ Lizzie said that all it required was con¬ 
centration, so she used to sit and concentrate a 
spell every day, and after each spell she’d tell 
me that coat of paint was cornin’ nearer. 

It got to be spring and Lizzie and I went up 
to Rutland to do some shoppin’. We was walkin’ 
along, lookin’ in windows and consultin’ about a 
new rug we meant to buy, when we come to a 
stagin’ where they was doin’ suthin’ to a roof. 
The fust we knew there was a shout and then 
Lizzie screamed and a pot of white paint lit on 
her shoulder.” 

Sally giggled and Mrs. Hodges indulged in a 
reminiscent smile. 

“ Lizzie materialized her coat of paint all right 
enough, only on the wrong surface. I told her 


306 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


then and there she’d got her currents of direction 
mixed, but it only made her sort of peevish. I 
guess there’s more to that sort of prayin’ than I 
can get through my head. But it wasn’t an un- 
niixed evil because the proprietor of the store 
acted the gentleman. He gave Lizzie a fresh hat 
out of stock and had her coat cleaned so it looked 
as good as new. Lizzie came out of the shop 
lookin’ as cross as a meat-axe and she was pretty 
touchy about it for a long time. I considered 
on it for a spell and I come to think that we 
weren’t meant to pray for worldly blessings like 
silk dresses and money and rich husbands, and 
if we do, it’s our own risk because likely as not 
they’ll get balled up in the sendin’. But prayin’ 
for strength to see a hard thing through, or for 
courage, or for help to know what’s right, well, 
—either the Lord listens more carefully, or else 
He thinks it’s a more unselfish kind of prayin’ 
and so He sends the answer straight.” 

You were the answer for Sandy and me,” 
said Sally with her sunny smile. I know you 
must be tired with all you’ve done here, and you 
can’t have been any too comfortable after you 
went up in that shed chamber to sleep.” 

I’ve slept in wuss places than that chamber 



RIKKI-TIKKI’S STONES 307 

and with wuss critters than squirrels kitin^ 
around. No, I^ve slept warm and there’s nuthin’ 
to complain of, but Lizzie, she’s gettin’ lonesome 
and now Sandy don’t need my nussin’. I’ll be 
gettin’ back to my two days a week. I’m not 
sayin’ I won’t help out again if there’s reason, 
but I’ll be glad of a rest, for after takin’ charge 
of a spell of sickness I feel as though I’d been 
runnin’ round in a peck measure.” 

Sally was appreciative of Mrs. Hodges’ faith¬ 
ful and devoted service during a trying time, but 
found it fun to be again sole mistress of Robin 
Hollow and to return to their usual way of liv¬ 
ing. 

I’m truly fond of Mrs. Hodges and she has 
been awfully good to us, but I love to have you 
all by myself again,” she admitted to Sandy that 
evening. ^^With her here, I felt as though I 
must set the table for every meal, and now we 
can have tray suppers again in front of our fire 
and dawdle all we like.” 

It’s nice to be alone, but the old girl was 
mighty good to us both.” 

I know it,” sighed Sally. Nobody could 
have been more careful of you. When Dr. At¬ 
kins suggested her coming, I felt that you should 


308 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


have a trained nurse, and then all at once I knew 
that one couldn’t be got here for love nor money. 
And if by a miracle one had come, I can’t im¬ 
agine her putting up with inconveniences and 
inventing makeshifts like Mrs. Hodges. If she 
wanted something and it wasn’t in the house, 
she managed with something else. No trained 
nurse would do that, and I don’t believe one 
would have slept in that unheated room with a 
squirrel liable to gallop across her bed at any 
moment.” 

No more she would,” Sandy assented. Mrs. 
H. is a born nurse and that counts for a lot. 
And Doc Atkins isn’t to be sneezed at, either. 
I think I shall stick to him after this. He may 
not have the special training of Dr. West, but he 
has forty years of experience behind him, and a 
lot of horse sense into the bargain.” 

I never knew before how hard a country 
doctor works,” said Sally thoughtfully. He 
drives miles in all sorts of weather and at all 
hours of the day or night. One afternoon he 
called about two and when he came in, he asked 
if I would give him a cup of coffee and a bite of 
something. I was glad to do it, of course. When 
he had seen you and sat down to eat his lunch. 


RIKKI-TIKKI’S STONES 309 


lie said he had been on the go since six that 
morning with nothing to eat since his early 
breakfast.’’ 

^^Why, he must have been in houses where 
they would be willing to give him food,” said 
Sandy. 

I said as much when I saw how hungry he 
was, and he smiled and said that the truth was 
that all the morning he had been making calls in 
places where either the people were so poor that 
he didn’t want to ask for food, or the kitchen 
was so dirty that he didn’t want to eat it. I 
realized that a country doctor doesn’t have an 
easy time, especially in winter when he can’t 
use his car.” 

That is the reason why so many isolated 
villages are without doctors entirely,” observed 
her brother. It is a serious situation when 
many sick people cannot obtain medical service 

I 

of any kind. We were lucky, Sally-girl.” 

I know it,” Sally agreed. “ I have a great 
deal of respect for Dr. Atkins. Rikki-Tik has 
another of those colored stones. Now, where 
does he get them from? It’s high time we found 
out.” 

Sally set aside her tray to pursue the playful 


310 ROBIN HOLLOW 

kitten until she secured the pebble he was batting 
about the floor. 

What a beauty! she exclaimed, handing her 
brother a pale green crystal about an inch long. 

It is ridiculous the way this small kitten gets 
those stones. This is the third time he has had 
some.” 

They must come from the old secretary,” said 
Sandy, turning to look at it. Rikki-Tik is un¬ 
der it a dozen times a day.” 

Sally lay flat on the floor to peer under this 
piece of furniture. She could see little, but it 
stood high enough for her to thrust under one 
arm. 

‘‘ I canT reach the back,” she announced, 
scrambling to her knees. Goodness! this floor 
is cold when you get off the rug! ” 

Pull out the bottom drawer. Then you can 
see what is behind.” 

Good idea,” said Sally, and she proceeded to 
put the words into action. The old drawer stuck 
but Anally came out with a thump and a rattle 
of falling objects. 

“ I guess this is where they come from,” said 
Sally, looking into the cavity. Yes, there are 
three or four on the floor.” 



The old drawer stuck, but finally came oym.—Piujc sio 

























RIKKI-TIKKrS STONES 311 


With the drawer out, to reach the stones was 
easy. Sally gave one to the insistent kitten and 
handed the others to her brother. 

They are crystals of some kind, but I donT 
know enough to judge whether they are of any 
value. Look in the drawer and see if there are 
any more.’^ 

Sally turned to the drawer, nearly full of old 
papers. 

I suppose those ought to be looked over and 
destroyed if they are of no value to anybody,^^ 
said Sandy. What do they appear to be? ’’ 

All sorts of things, newspaper clippings, old 
bills, old letters, pamphlets.’’ 

Sally reached into the farther part of the 
drawer. ^^Here are some little boxes,” she an¬ 
nounced, and a hole in a corner. I suspect 
Rikki-Tik’s little white paw has been stuck 
through it, for here are more loose stones. These 
boxes rattle.” 

Sally brought her brother four small boxes in 
good condition and one empty broken one, from 
which had evidently come the stones pulled 
* through the mouse hole by Rikki’s inquisitive 
little paw. There was one larger box and a small 
cloth bag, tightly tied. Each box contained a 


312 ROBIN HOLLOW 

number of crystals, sorted according to tbeir 
color. 

I fancy these pink ones are tourmalines,'’ said 
Sandy, turning them over with interest. 
guessed that Uncle Alexander was interested in 
geology because of those books he gave the li¬ 
brary and because there are several more here 
on his shelves. Do you suppose he found them 
on different trails, and is that why he called one 
pink and put pink blazes along it? ” 

I believe it must be," said Sally. Why, 
Sandy," she added excitedly, that day Elsie 
and I followed the pink trail, 'way back last 
October, I picked up a stone to bring you; didn't 
I ever show it to you? " 

Not to my knowledge. Was it like these? " 
“ Not nearly so pretty, but it was pinkish in 
color. What did I do with that stone? I re¬ 
member picking it up in a hurry because there 
wasn't any gum to bring home, and stuffing it 
into my sweater pocket." 

Look in the pocket. It may yet be there." 
“What sweater did I wear that day? I have 
five. It must have been my heavy brown one." 

Sally dashed up to her room. “ It's here," she 
reported. “ Is it the same kind of stone? " 


RIKKI-TIKKrS STONES 313 

Sandy compared them carefully. I should 
say that it was, though not nearly so good a 
specimen. Well, if Uncle Alexander found pink 
crystals on his pink trail, he had good reason so 
to name it. Uncle Alexander, I apologize! 

Oh, when spring comes, we will go up the 
trail and see whether we can find any more,’’ said 
Sally enthusiastically. 

And that explains the entries in the note¬ 
book. Just hand it, will you? Of course he 
couldn’t hunt them when snow was on the 
ground. Why, it is plain English now, the date 
he went, the trail he took, the number of stones 
he found.” 

Sally opened another box. Here are yellow 
crystals to account for the yellow trail and this 
big box has a quantity of dark red ones.” 

“ Red is the most frequent entry and the num¬ 
bers are always higher. And there is often the 
initial G. Could these be garnets? ” Sandy won¬ 
dered. 

They look like the garnets in rings, only not 
so big nor polished.” 

“ I fancy that guess is a bull’s-eye. These are 

i 

mostly very small and garnet isn’t especially 
valuable. I know they are used for watch-jew- 


314 ROBIN HOLLOW 

els; these might be large enough for that pur¬ 
pose/’ 

“ But where are the rest of the green stones? ” 
asked Sally. Rikki-Tik dug out green ones and 
there is a green trail. Where’s the little cloth 
bag I brought over to the table? ” 

Under your napkin, I think.” 

Sally found the bag, opened it and gave an 
exclamation. Oh, look! These must be the 
gems of his collection.” 

She poured out a glittering heap of crystals, 
some clear, translucent green, others shading to 
white, some with green streaks in a transparent 
medium. They were rather well graded as to 
size and shape. 

Those are worth looking at,” agreed Sandy, 
defending the pile from Rikki’s invading paws. 

Aren’t they lovely? ” Sally exclaimed in en¬ 
thusiasm. “ Don’t you think these may be valu¬ 
able? They would make a beautiful necklace.” 

Yes, I think they may be worth something. 
Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone, but of 
course they would have to be cut and polished 
before use. I tell you what we will do. When 
my tallest ship comes in, we will have these cut 
and strung in a chain for you to wear.” 


RIKKI-TIKKrS STONES 315 


^^My! won^t all the girls envy me?’^ laughed 
Sally. This one here,—see, it is almost perfect 
without any cutting at all—this one shall be set 
as a scarf-pin for you.’’ 

I see myself peacocking it about. Yes, the 
letter T must stand for tourmalines. And those 
chemical formulas—just hand me that book of 
Uncle’s—the geology, I mean. I want to look 
up tourmalines and garnets.” 

Sally gave him the book and took the supper 
dishes to the kitchen, coming at intervals to the 
door to hear extracts of a highly technical na¬ 
ture from the work on rocks and minerals. 

If I had only remembered my chemistry bet¬ 
ter ! ” said Sandy. I did know how to read 
those two formulas; that is, I knew what ele¬ 
ments they stood for, but not the substance they 
composed. Here it is. 

“ Ca3 Fcg Sis Oi2 is the chemical composition 
of the common calcium-iron garnet. And the 
other formula is topaz. Uncle’s yellow stones are 
topazes. Without doubt the pink and green 
ones are tourmalines.” 

It doesn’t say anything about their being 
found in Vermont,” objected Sally. ‘^It does 
say they are found in Maine.” 


316 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


That doesnT prevent their being here. Prob¬ 
ably only localities are mentioned where they 
have been found in large amounts. Pm wild to 
get up Bound Knob and see whether we can lo¬ 
cate Uncle Alexander's mines. From his note¬ 
book he didn^t have success every time he hunted. 
It may take some searching.’^ 

I want to announce to you, Sandy, so you 
can have a good chance to think it over, that 
when spring comes, I am not going to do very 
much studying,—at least, not so much as I have 
been doing,^^ she amended hastily. Probably 
two days a week will be official picnic days. 
You see you will be equal to picnics then, and 
goodness knows when we shall have another 
such opportunity. Elsie and I are crazy to do a 
lot of tramping, and now we shall have to hunt 
for the places where Uncle Alexander found his 
stones.^’ 

I think you and Elsie will get a reasonable 
number of picnics,” Sandy agreed. ^^We will 
make all-day affairs of them. But don’t be dis¬ 
appointed if we can’t easily locate the spots 
where the minerals crop out. Look, isn’t this 
illustration like that odd hammer in the shed? ” 

A geologist’s hammer,” read Sally. “ If we 


RIKKI-TIKKI’S STONES 317 


had known long ago it was that kind of hammer, 
we might have made a better guess about the 
note-book. We can thank my sweet kit for hav¬ 
ing dug out the stones and cleared up the mys¬ 
tery. But there is another thing about Uncle 
Alexander that I want to have explained, and 
that is why he wouldn^t stay in business with 
- Uncle Caleb.’’ 

Probably for the same reason I refused the 
job Uncle Caleb offered me,” said Sandy mus¬ 
ingly. While business conditions change, I 
fancy that even in Uncle Alexander’s youth, it 
wasn’t easy to meet competition and be up 
against all sorts of problems and likely as not 
get entangled in politics, and keep a clean pair 
of hands.” 

Sandy,” said Sally, somewhat shocked, do 
you mean you think Uncle Caleb isn’t honest? ” 

He keeps within the law, if that is what you 
mean by being honest, but many things that are 
perfectly legal are neither right nor just. In 
business it is every one for himself and perdi¬ 
tion take the hindmost. I have never regretted 
choosing the job I did, for it gave me the ex¬ 
perience I wanted and a step ahead in literary 
work. Probably Uncle Caleb will never wholly 


318 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


forgive me, though. I think he is less disgusted 
since I am getting into print. On the other 
hand, I feel sure that Uncle Alexander would 
entirely understand how I felt and would sym¬ 
pathize.” 

Would he not? ” said Sally quickly. I love 
his house and his green stones and his trails. If 
he knows anything about it, Sandy, I think he 
must be pleased that we are happy here.” 


CHAPTER XXII 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 

Of necessity, several Saturdays passed when 
Sally gave no assistance at the library. Elsie 
and Thor managed between them with some help 
from Gertrude Howe, who lived so near that she 
could easily run in. 

One afternoon toward the end of February, 
Sally felt free to go down to the village. She 
left her brother established on the porch and set 
out with a real holiday feeling. Though she 
sturdily denied it, a constant routine of fire¬ 
tending and cooking became monotonous, and let¬ 
ters from girl friends in Boston, telling of a 
round of festivities did not mend matters. An 
older person than Sally would have felt moments 
of depression and impatience, and Sally deserved 
great credit for the plucky way she stuck to try¬ 
ing tasks. Her brother fully realized this and 
vowed to himself that he would make it up to 
her in the year to come. 

But Sally was far from feeling either abused 

or unhappy as she started for the village in the 

319 


320 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


bright winter sunshine. Snow still lay deep but 
the sun was gaining in power, and the mercury 
which invariably went down during the night to 
zero, would rise above freezing point at noon. 
Hopes of spring were being whispered to the 
waiting world. 

Just below Ericsson’s farm Sally came upon 
Oscar and Dagmar, coasting on a long pasture 
slope. 

Come and slide,” they called. It’s tine! ” 

More than once Sally had coasted with the 
children and she willingly stopped for a few mo¬ 
ments. 

Now I must go,” she said after climbing the 
hill for the third time. I shall be late for 
opening the library.” 

«I?m going with you,” Dagmar declared. 
“ Ma won’t care. She said I could slide all the 
afternoon, ’cause I helped so good this morning. 
Oscar, you tell her I’ve gone with Sally.” 

Oscar grunted an assent just as an idea struck 
Sally. 

Slide us down the road, Oscar,” she pro¬ 
posed. That will save a lot of time, if you 
don’t mind climbing back.” 

The two children looked at each other, but 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 321 


Sally, brushing snow from her coat, did not no¬ 
tice the glance. Neither spoke, but Oscar drew 
the sled through the bars and turned it around 
on the road. 

During the Christmas vacation, Sally had 
coasted on that hill with Thor and the Luthers. 
One moonlight evening with the thermometer 
registering eight below, was spent in great en¬ 
joyment and perfect comfort, keeping warm by 
the exercise of climbing the slope. To be sure. 
Jack finally built a bonfire by the side of the road 
to thaw fingers and toes. Sally smiled as she 
thought of that fire, for while they were gath¬ 
ered about it, there was a loud hiss and some¬ 
thing which appeared to be a writhing snake 
dropped from the sky. With shrieks of dismay, 
she and Elsie retreated, but inspection proved 
it no snake but a telegraph wire, melted by the 
intense heat of the flames. The fire had been 
extinguished in short order by the disgusted 
Jack, who, Andrew cheerfully predicted, would 
soon languish in jail for interfering with the 
service. But, so far as Sally knew, the telegraph 
company repaired the wire without inquiry into 
the cause of the damage. 

Oscar swung the sled about and took his seat 


322 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


to steer. Dagmar came next and Sally at the 
back. Eeady? ’’ asked Oscar, and pushed off. 

With conditions right, it was possible to coast 
almost to the centre of the village, crossing the 
single-track railroad and the main street. As 
they started, Sally gave the railroad a thought, 
but only four trains a day, two in either direc¬ 
tion, passed through Still Eiver and she knew 
none was due at that hour. 

The snow was in fine shape, well-packed and 
slippery. They dropped rapidly from the start, 
lost a little momentum on a long, almost level 
stretch, and gathered speed for the last dip which 
would take them over the track and into the vil¬ 
lage. While the sled was flying its fastest, Sally 
and Oscar each realized, at the same moment, 
that the crossing signal was clanging for the ap¬ 
proach of a train. For a second, neither could 
believe their ears, having overlooked the possi¬ 
bility of a freight. Then Dagmar screamed. 

Sally felt her heart stand still. Even at that 
moment she noticed, in a curiously detached way, 
how it skipped beats. Yet she was thinking 
what to do. The train might be some distance 
around the curve, for the signal began early. 
But had they heard its first alarm? 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 323 


Oscar/’ she gasped, swing to the side! ” 

The boy was already trying his best to do so, 
but the sled had one runner in a rut. 

Could they make the crossing? Sally glanced 
at the track, coming nearer with horrifying 
rapidity. What she saw was hnything but re¬ 
assuring, for the steam snow-plough had done 
its work so well that the crossing showed bare 
boards. On striking them the sled would almost 
inevitably stick and stop. Then the train 
whistled and Sally saw its smoke not one hun¬ 
dred feet away. 

Beaching beyond Dagmar, she seized Oscar’s 
arm and added her strength to his, at the same 
time leaning to the left. The sled swerved, 
slewed, and turned over, scattering the three in 
different directions. Twenty feet in front of 
them the freight train crossed the road. 

Sally sat up, putting a hand to a dazed and 
aching head. The train was gone, and her hat 
lay at some distance. Oscar was picking himself 
up. The next second, Dagmar, crying violently, 
flung herself upon Sally. 

“ Are you hurt, darling? ” Sally demanded. 

^‘N-no,” sobbed Dagmar, ^‘only my head is 
biunped/^ 


324 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


How about you, Oscar? Any bones broken? 

'' I'm all right," said the boy, now on his feet. 

Gosh! but we were nearly goners! " 

You see now!" Dagmar went on crying an¬ 
grily. It happened just as Ma said! You'll 
catch it, Oscar Ericsson! " 

So will you. Ma said you weren't to do it, 
either!" 

Sally did not understand. Nobody's hurt 
and we all know enough not to try it again," 
she said, thinking this merely a fraternal squab¬ 
ble. Please hand my hat, Oscar. Why, Dag¬ 
mar dearie, how you tore your stocking! " 

Dagmar looked ruefully at the rent. 

“ You'll catch it," Oscar repeated. 

Of course your mother won't punish Dagmar 
for tearing her stocking. That was an accident," 
interposed Sally. I'll stop with you when we 
go home and tell her how it happened." 

The two children exchanged another glance. 
“ Aw, what for? " said Oscar awkwardly. Ma 
won't care about the stocking. Nobody's killed 
and what Ma doesn't know won't hurt her. Only 
Dagmar will blab and let it out." 

I won't, either," snapped Dagmar. 

You mean she would be frightened because 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 325 

we came so near to having an accident? asked 
Sally. 

She told us never to slide on this road,’^ ad¬ 
mitted Dagmar. Never, unless Thor was along, 
or Pa. If she knows we did it, she’ll whip us 
both.” 

Dagmar, why didn’t you tell me? ” demanded 
the distressed Sally. I would never have asked 
Oscar to take us down if I had known that. You 
should have told me that you weren’t to slide 
on the road.” 

I thought it wouldn’t be polite not to take 
you when you wanted to go,” sobbed Dagmar. 

She wanted to go herself, all right enough,” 
snorted Oscar. 

Sally sat in the road and petted Dagmar. 

What shall I do? ” she thought. “ How was I 
to know they were forbidden to slide on this 
hill? If I say anything to Mrs. Ericsson it may 
make matters worse. Their telling her or not is 
really their affair, not mine.” 

The loving solicitude of the older girl com¬ 
forted* Dagmar. She presently sat up. 

^^When Ma asks about my stocking. I’ll tell 
her I tore it sliding and perhaps she won’t ask 
any more.” 


326 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


But if she does? inquired Sally kindly. 

Then Ill tell her/’ said Dagmar. I’ll tell 
her we did it to be polite and that you didn’t 
know she said we were never to slide here. And 
if she knows how scared we were—my! I’ll never, 
never slide down that hill again, long’s I live! 
Not if somebody gave me lots of dollars to do it.” 

I’d just as soon do it now,” said Oscar with 
the bravado of his twelve years. 

I wouldn’t,” said Sally with a shiver. Five 
minutes like these last are quite enough for me. 
You two must do as you think right about tell¬ 
ing your mother, but if you do tell her, be sure 
to say that I asked you to take me down and 
didn’t know she had forbidden you to slide here.” 

Oh, it is our fault, all right,” admitted Oscar 
with the same fairness that distinguished his 
older brother. 

^^Are you coming to the library with me?” 
Sally asked Dagmar. Come along. Your 
stocking doesn’t show much.” 

Dagmar decided to go and Oscar turned back 
up the hill. Sally, with Dagmar’s mittened 
hand in hers, crossed the track, not without a 
shudder at what might have been. The dry 
planks just at the crossing confirmed her opin- 



SALLY GOES SLIDING 327 


ion that they would have stuck, had they tried 
to get over before the train came. Best not to 
think about it. 

Elsie was already at the town hall and greeted 
them happily. Dagmar^s tear-stained face was 
explained by her bumped head and torn stock¬ 
ing, but when she was absorbed in a story, con¬ 
tentedly composed on her favorite seat, the wood- 
box, Elsie heard the tale. 

Goodness, Sally! was all she said, but the 
look that crossed her expressive face meant much 
more. 

Sandy will probably make remarks,’’ sighed 
Sally. When he disapproves of anything I do, 
he tells me so in words of one syllable. There’s 
never any mistaking what he means. But how 
was I to know a freight might pass? ” 

You couldn’t know. Daddy doesn’t like me 
to slide there. Still, we do, when the boys are 
at home, and there never has been an accident.” 

Sally gave her shoulders a shake. “Nobody 
was hurt and Dagmar’s stocking is the only 
casualty. I’m not going to think about it any 
more.” She glanced about the room, surprised 
to see what a different aspect the place pre¬ 
sented since her last visit. It was as though the 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


328 

books themselves had taken a new lease of life 
and were finding it extremely pleasant to be see¬ 
ing something of the outer world again. 

Poor dears! said Sally, patting the backs of 
the nearest. I suppose they are perfectly de¬ 
lighted not to stay any longer in a Eip Van 
Winkle sleep. Even those which aren’t borrowed 
have a chance to see new faces once a week. It 
must be so nice for them to be rid of their smoth¬ 
ering paper nightgowns.” 

Elsie laughed at Sally’s fancy. You can’t 
think how the new ones chirked up the others. 
Look here, Sally. Of course you saw all Sandy 
gave, but here are three new ones Daddy bought 
on farming and raising vegetables, and one on 
cooking and another on modern equipment for a 
farmhouse, and the one I wanted on candy-mak¬ 
ing.” 

Don’t they change the whole place? ” Sally 
agreed. “ It is a real library now. Sandy and I 
are going to have a vegetable garden in the 
spring; we shall be needing this book to tell us 
how to raise potatoes.” 

Take my advice and steer clear of potatoes. 
They sound easy, but, oh! the bugs that eat the 
tops. Blights strike them overnight, and every 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 329 


season some new pest develops. Yon have to 
pick off the insects and spray the plants with 
all sorts of things for different afflictions. It 
really doesn’t pay.” 

But didn’t you get any potatoes? ” 

A few,” sighed Elsie, but when we washed 
them, we lost the larger ones down the drain. 
The only fun we had from those potatoes was 
the afternoon we dug them. We all went out 
and it was like mining; you never knew whether 
you would turn up anything or not. You and 
Sandy had better plant carrots and lettuce and 
corn. Sweet corn is usually satisfactory if the 
borers don’t get into it. There is rhubarb in the 
garden at Kobin Hollow: I have seen the leaves.” 

There are berry-bushes, which Sandy is go¬ 
ing to trim into shape. I don’t suppose our 
garden will amount to much the first year, but 
we are going to try one. I want some fiowers.” 

Stick to tough things like zinnias and calen¬ 
dulas. Zinnias are vegetable goats; they will 
grow in any kind of soil, and Burbank has de¬ 
veloped them in lovely colors. You remember 
how beautiful my pastel shades were last fall. 
I’ll give you some seeds.” 

Thank you,” said Sally. Sandy is sure 


330 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


some perennials will appear in the spring, so 
we are going to get out what weeds we can and 
give the old roots a chance. I see that you have 
acquired a paste-pot and a brush since I was 
here.’’ 

We have,” said Elsie, and paid for if you 
please, with fines for overdue books. I feel so 
proud to think the Still River library can buy 
the things it needs to keep itself mended. We 
have pasted lots of loose leaves and torn places.” 

Show me how,” said Sally, putting back the 
book on raising vegetables. Were people will¬ 
ing to pay for the books kept overtime? ” 

Only one person made a fuss. That was Mr. 
Beck—I think you don’t know him, but he has 
as much money as anybody in the village and 
hates to part with a cent. He was rather dis¬ 
agreeable, but I fixed him.” 

^^How?” Sally inquired, sitting down at the 
table and considering a leaf detached from a 
book. 

I let him say what he chose and then an¬ 
nounced very sweetly that of course I could not 
remit the fine, since it was due the town, but if 
he felt it was unjust, I would pay it myself. I 
took out my purse to do so, but that was enough. 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 331 


He paid the tine in a hurry and even took an¬ 
other book, which was more than I expected.^’ 

I have been talking with Sandy about raising 
money for the library,’’ said Sally as she watched 
Elsie’s skilful fingers. I’ll tell you later what 
he thinks, but first I’ll set forth my own ideas. 
Do you think a food sale would be successful? 
In the city that is always a good way to raise 
money.” 

I don’t believe it would work here,” said 
Elsie thoughtfully. “ There are women who 
would give cakes and pies to be sold, but I don’t 
know from where the people to buy them would 
come. You see most of them have to manage 
carefully and they would never buy food when 
they can make it themselves just as well and 
more cheaply. It isn’t as though Still River 
were on the State road and tourists would stop.” 

It’s true that in a city or town you can count 
on strangers buying things,” assented Sally. 
Well, how about a rummage sale? ” 

Elsie shook her head. You’ll think me a fear¬ 
ful wet blanket, but that won’t work either. 
The Baptist Ladies’ Aid tried it once. And 
aside from that. Daddy doesn’t approve of rum¬ 
mage sales. He would never let the ladies in his 


332 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


city churcli liold one. He thinks it is wrong to 
tempt poor people, for after all, they are the 
ones who buy the stuff, to spend money on 
trash.” 

But sometimes really nice things are given 
for the sale,” protested Sally. 

Yes, that^s true,” admitted Elsie, inserting 
her brush to reach the back of a loose cover. 
“ But those things are in small proportion to the 
quantities that are broken or useless.” 

If Mr. Luther disapproves, that settles it,” 
said Sally. It looks as though Sandy’s plan 
might be best after all.” 

What is it? ” asked Elsie. “ There is still 
the possibility of getting up a neighborhood en¬ 
tertainment and charging a small admission fee 
—it couldn’t possibly be more than twenty-five 
cents and fifteen would be better. If we did that, 
and had the children do a lot of it, we could 
probably draw as good an audience as at the 
Christmas pageant.” 

“ Dear me! ” sighed Sally. When I think 
of all the weird things those children did that 
night-” 

It is the only way to get the parents to come. 
It works every time. The more homes repre- 



SALLY GOES SLIDING 333 

sented by the children, the bigger the audience 
will be/^ 

I suppose we can do it if there isn’t any 
other way, but I still dream about those angel- 
wings. Sandy’s idea is this. He says the use 
of the library and the new books that have been 
given constitute a real claim on the town, and 
he thinks the dignified thing for us to do, and a 
better one than raising money in any other way, 
is to put the figures showing the number of books 
used before the selectmen and ask at the town 
meeting in March for the town to vote fifty dol¬ 
lars for the purchase of new books this coming 
year.” 

Does Sandy think they will do it? ” queried 
Elsie doubtfully. little town is so slow to 
try anything new.” 

He thinks they ought to do it. We are not 
asking it for ourselves; it can be spent for books. 
Sandy says the town is under obligation to all 
us young people and it will only be doing the de¬ 
cent thing to recognize our efforts.” 

It is one thing to ask the town of Still River 
for money and quite another one to get it,” com¬ 
mented Elsie. It would be the most dignified 
thing to do. Well—^we can try. Trying won’t 


334 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


do any harm, and if they refuse, we can still 
have the entertainment and see how much we 
can raise.^’ 

Hasn’t Mr. Moffatt borrowed any books be¬ 
sides ^ Gulliver ’? ” 

Elsie shook her pretty head. I wish I could 
say yes, but he is renewing ^ Gulliver ’ every 
other Saturday, and telling me what he thinks 
of each stage he reaches. Still, that is equiva¬ 
lent to a steady use of the library. Mr. Damon 
has taken two books and the family of the other 
selectman are using them right along. The plan 
might work. I do think there is a chance that 
it would.” 

Sandy mentioned another thing, too, and that 
is that women vote now at the town meeting. 
The women like having the library open; they 
send by the children for books to read on Sun¬ 
day. He says the women would approve of 
spending a little money on books. Do you sup¬ 
pose, by any chance they would give us one hun¬ 
dred dollars?” 

Never in this world!” said Elsie quickly, 
hundred dollars is a lot to many of these 
farmers. Still Eiver is a scattered village and 
it costs a mint to keep the roads in condition. I 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 335 


don^t believe the town really could afford more 
than fifty/’ 

It is better to ask for fifty and get it than 
for a hundred and have it turned down. There 
is another thing I think would be nice. Sandy 
and your father have given nearly thirty books 
on science and travel and these practical man¬ 
uals. Aunt Ruth sent seventeen new stories. 
When we ask the town for the fifty dollars how 
would it do to say that it is to be spent entirely 
on new books for the children? ” 

If we do that, I think we’ll get it,” said 
Elsie with conviction. Most of the farmers 
round here want to give their children more ad¬ 
vantages than they had themselves. 

There’s Gram Ericsson,” Elsie went on. 

She speaks English but she never learned to 
read it. One of the books Mother suggested has 
patterns for knitting and crochet. Dagmar took 
it home and Gram was so excited over the illus¬ 
trations, patterns she did not know. Down she 
sits with her crochet needle and Dagmar to read 
the directions, and behold! Gram has a new 
crocheted edge! 

^^When Mrs. Damon returned that book on 
dressmaking she said that all her life she had 


336 ROBIN HOLLOW 

wondered liow to make a tailor’s buttonkole and 
a set-in coat pocket, and the book told her how.” 

If those women would only get up in town 
meeting and tell the men those things! ” ex¬ 
claimed Sally. 

They won’t. They sit like clams, though 
they do vote when the question is put. Mother 
holds the record for being the only woman to 
speak in the Still Kiver town meeting.” 

What did she say? ” giggled Sally. 

It was brief and to the point. The town had 
been discussing one thing after another and 
quarreling about the expense involved, and this 
and that costing too much. The hall was fright¬ 
fully stuffy. After a while, Mother arose and 
when the moderator recognized her, she re¬ 
marked, If it isn’t too expensive, I move that 
we have a little fresh air.” 

Did she get it? ” inquired Sally in amuse¬ 
ment. 

She did. They all laughed, even Joshua, who 
actually opened a window on each side of the 
place. I can tell you that was a concession for 
Joshua. Has Sandy spoken to Daddy about his 
plan? ” 

‘‘Not that I know of, but it’s all right for 


SALLY GOES SLIDING 337 


you to tell him. Sandy doesn^t get down to the 
village now and your father hasn’t been up since 
Monday. Thor fixed the radio so it is working 
again. The aerial came down in that last heavy 
snow. Sandy missed it so much. Oh, Elsie, I 
must tell you about the crystals we found in 
Uncle Alexander’s desk.” 

We will look for more,” Elsie assented ea¬ 
gerly, when Sally, with several interruptions 
from library visitors, had told the tale. Thor 
once told me that semi-precious stones were 
sometimes found in the hills, but the boys and 
I have been all over the three nearest mountains 
and on every one of your uncle’s trails and we 
never discovered any. We will have some fine 
expeditions next spring. Sandy will be well 
enough to go then.” 

I intend to make the very most of this sum¬ 
mer. Sandy says that he means to complete his 
year off, no matter how husky he is feeling. So 
we shall have the whole summer together.” 

And others,” put in Elsie. Sandy will 
never sell the place now, will he? ” 

“ No, indeed; we both love it .too much, but 
probably we can’t be here so long again unless 
Sandy’s very tallest ship sails in and he can give 


338 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


up newspaper work and just write. That is 
what he most wants to do.’’ 

‘^We will wish most favoring winds for that 
ship,” said Elsie. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you 
could be at Kobin Hollow every summer? Oh, 
I feel very sure that Sandy’s ship will come 
safely into harbor.” 


CHAPTER XXIII 


MIND CUBE FOR MEASLES 

Don^t you feel well, Sally? asked Mrs. 
Luther solicitously one Wednesday afternoon in 
the last week of February, as Sally stopped after 
lessons to consult with Elsie over a hard passage 
in French. You look pale.” 

Now I think of it, I believe I’m tired,” said 
Sally with a smile. It isn’t anything, Mrs. 
Luther. Last Sunday when the thermometer 
registered thirty-two below zero, I was more than 
busy keeping Robin Hollow even respectably 
warm. Both stoves, nearly red-hot, hardly more 
than took off the chill. Thor always brings coal 
and wood for me, but I used so much that I had 
to get more from the shed. That required di¬ 
plomacy, for Sandy perfectly hates to see me 
carrying fuel, and of course he mustn’t handle 
it.” 

That cold week took considerable out of us 
all,” said Elsia I can stand the thermometer 
at zero, but thirty below is rough on the mourn¬ 
ers.” 


339 


340 ROBIN HOLLOW 

Take care of yourself, Sally,’’ said Mrs. 
Luther affectionately. I don’t like to see you 
without rosy cheeks. Better stop and rest before 
you get ^ run down,’ as they say.” 

Sally agreed to be careful. She put on her 
pretty fur coat and hat, gathered her books and 
started for the post-office. Though the intensely 
cold temperature was of the past, the day was yet 
far from warm. 

This afternoon the road to Kobin Hollow 
seemed twice as long as usual, and no friendly 
pung overtook Sally. Ordinarily, she enjoyed 
the brisk walk in the winter air and took genuine 
pleasure in the ever-changing purple and blue 
shadows which haunted every hilltop. To-day 
each step seemed difficult. 

The walking isn’t hard,” she thought. I 
suppose it seems so because I am tired: My head 
ached all the afternoon but it should stop now. 
Elsie said I was to have a piece of chocolate 
cake, but I am glad she forgot to give it to me. 
Thor comes for geometry to-night; he will fix 
the fires before he goes and I can go to bed 
early. I ought to write some letters instead of 
going to bed. I can’t get over having forty-three 
valentines. I believe every girl and boy I ever 


MIND CURE FOR MEASLES 341 


knew sent one. Thor’s face was so funny when 
he saw them.” 

Sally’s face dimpled into a smile. Thor had 
grinned on meeting Rikki-Tik, prancing gayly 
about with a tiny red paper heart stuck in the 
exact centre of his little maltese forehead, but 
when Thor saw the pile of valentines, he not 
only seemed impressed by their number, but 
rather taken aback to realize how many other 
young people claimed an interest in friendly 
Sally. 

Sandy was absorbed in writing and Sally got 
supper to the click of the Corona. His mind was 
still on his work when he answered her summons 
and he did not at first notice that all the toast 
came his way. 

That slice must belong to you,” he finally 
remonstrated. I know it isn’t my turn.” 

“ I don’t feel hungry,” said Sally. 

I suppose you and Elsie invaded the pantry 
after lessons,” commented Sandy teasingly, and 
his sister let the accusation pass for she did not 
wish to admit that the very sight of food made 
her feel ill. 

“ I’m afraid I have a little cold,” she ex¬ 
plained. “ Don’t be surprised if I take to living 


342 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


in one part of the house and make you live in 
another, for you are not to catch it.^^ 

will be careful,’’ said Sandy, looking at 
her more closely. You do seem bunged-up. 
Better go to bed early.” 

“ I intend to,” said Sally. ‘‘ Thor will fix the 
fires. I’ll go up as soon as I get things straight 
in the kitchen.” 

She would not let Sandy help her, pleading 
her cold and contagion as an excuse, and her 
brother went back to his typewriter. Presently 
Thor came. 

Dagmar and Oscar have the measles,” he an¬ 
nounced as he stopped to warm his hands. 

Goodness! ” said Sally suddenly. Dagmar 
spent every Saturday afternoon in the library. 
She recalled that when she last saw her, the 
child had a slight cold and did not seem well. 

How do measles begin? ” she inquired. 

Oh, with a cold and a headache and feeling 
sick and mean generally,” said Thor, one eye on 
the coal-hod which he saw needed filling. 

“ And how long does it take to get sick after 
you have been exposed? ” 

Ten days or so. Dagmar came down on 
Sunday.” 


MIND CURE FOR MEASLES 343 


^^Well/’ said Sally tragically, ^Hhen that’s 
what’s the matter with me! And I will not have 
them! ” 

Thor stared at her. 

I feel every way you just said, Thorwald 
Ericsson, and more besides! But here it stops! 
Have measles, I will not! ’’ 

‘‘Haven’t you ever had ’em?” Thor asked, 
finding his tongue. 

Sally shook her head. “ Nor mumps either. 
I hope you haven’t the mumps. One thing at a 
time is enough for me.” 

Thor did not even laugh. “Nothing wrong 
with me except a cut finger, and that isn’t catch¬ 
ing. Has Sandy had ’em? ” he added anxiously. 

“Yes, praise be! Now, Thor, don’t you dare 
tell Sandy I don’t feel well. I will try Mrs. 
Hodges’ sister’s formula. I am going to bed 
right away and just concentrate on not having 
measles. Will you fix the fires for the night be¬ 
fore you go? ” 

“ Of course I will, but, Sally, you can’t cure 
measles that way. And you can’t monkey with 
them, either, especially in cold weather. Ma has 
stuck both kids into bed. You ought to go to^ 
bed and stay there.” 


344 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Listen to me, Thor. Just give me a chance 
to try that concentration. ITl try it to-night, 
hard, and if to-morrow morning I don’t feel bet¬ 
ter, I’ll give in and have measles if I must! Mrs. 
Hodges comes to-morrow anyway and she’ll prob¬ 
ably stay and keep house. But don’t tell Sandy.” 

You may feel too sick to get up to-morrow,” 
remonstrated Thor. 

I shall get up. Remember how I am going 
to concentrate. I won’t be too sick to come down 
and telephone Mrs. Hodges.” 

^^You can go ahead and concentrate all you 
like, but just you leave the shed door unlocked. 
I’ll come up to-morrow morning about half-past 
six and fix the fires and you can holler down the 
stairs whether your stunt has worked, and if it 
hasn’t, you’ll stay in bed and I’ll ’phone Mrs. 
Hodges. You agree to that and I’ll keep mum 
before Sandy.” 

Thor spoke with determination. Better than 
Sally, he knew that an ailment not in itself 
of more than passing discomfort, might easily 
become serious if aggravated by exposure to a 
cold house on a winter morning. 

Sally assented dubiously. will leave the 
door unlocked if you insist, but I shall feel en- 


MIND CURE FOR MEASLES 345 

tirely well to-morrow. Just see if I don’t. I 
mean what I say.” 

Their agreement ratified, Thor went into the 
sitting-room. When Sally peeped in a moment 
later, both boys were occupied with papers and 
diagrams. She returned to the kitchen to take 
down the telephone receiver, giving the Luthers’ 
number. 

Is it you, Sally dear?” came Elsie’s voice. 

Are you feeling better? ” 

Elsie,” said Sally, Thor says the children 
are down with the measles and I’ve never had 
them.” 

Oh, for goodness’ sake! ” exclaimed Elsie. 

And there you were cuddling Dagmar last Sat¬ 
urday afternoon because she didn’t feel well! 
Are you sure you have them? ” 

From what Thor says, I think I have, but I 
am going to bed and try mind cure. Elsie, we 
let Dagmar stay with us and probably she has 
given the measles to every last person who came 
in. I feel so discouraged, because the selectmen 
will never give us any money for the library if 
we let the whole town catch the measles there. 
I feel perfectly tragic about it, Elsie! ” 

You poor dear! ” came Elsie’s laughing voice. 


346 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


You have got it hard! It is Dagmar’s fault, 
not ours, and most of the people who came were 
grown-up. I am sure the selectmen won’t lay it 
up against us. Do take care not to catch cold, 
for if you do, you may be really ill. Will Mrs. 
Hodges come? ” 

I think so. If my mind cure doesn’t work. 
I’ll ask her. Lucidly Sandy has had them.” 

So have I,” said Elsie comfortingly. I’ll 
come and read to you, Sally darling.” 

Sally told her of the plan arranged with Thor 
and Elsie expressed approval. She hung up the 
receiver and went to her room somewhat cheered, 
though thankful to get into bed. 

When Thor came next morning in the gray 
dawn, he fixed both fires before speaking to 
Sally. As he stood at the foot of the steep stair, 
he could distinctly hear her reply. 

Telephone Mrs. Hodges. Concentration 
didn’t do any good. I am all spots.” 

Don’t get up,” replied Thor. “I’ll wake 
Sandy and we will scratch some sort of break¬ 
fast together.” 

“ Don’t bring me any,” came Sally’s muffled 
voice. “ I never want anything more to eat.” 

She could not see the grin with which Thor 


MIND CURE FOR MEASLES 347 


turned away, though his amusement was tem¬ 
pered with real sympathy for the plucky little 
mistress of Robin Hollow. 

Half an hour later, Sandy, dressed but not 
shaved—Sally opened one eye to note that fact 
—came up for a personal inspection of his sis¬ 
ter’s flushed face. 

You stay right where you are,” he ordered. 
You simply must not take cold. I know enough 
for that. Thor has got breakfast and fed that 
tyrannical kitten and broke not a single dish. 
Mrs. Hodges will be right up to look after both 
you and the house and Dr. Atkins will come 
soon.” 

When did you have measles? ” asked Sally. 

“ Oh, years ago, when you were a baby.” 

I think,” said Sally, burying her face in the 
pillow, that it was very unkind of you, Alex¬ 
ander Allison, not to have given them to me! ” 
So it happened that Mrs. Hodges came back 
to Robin Hollow to care for another invalid, 
and so it chanced that Sally, who had set her 
heart on attending Still River’s annual town 
meeting, was obliged to be satisfled with a sec¬ 
ond-hand account of what took place. When Mr. 
Luther heard Sandy’s plan for asking the town 


348 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


for an appropriation, he agreed heartily that it 
was the best and most dignified way to put the 
library on a recognized footing. Mr. Moffatt, 
when approached, considered the matter with his 
customary caution, and while unwilling to com¬ 
mit himself to any definite opinion, agreed to 
see that the request was placed before the voters 
in the legal and proper form. 

On the appointed date in March, Sally^s com¬ 
plexion was again without fiaw, though still 
minus its rosy tint, and while the town met in 
solemn assembly, she was enjoying her first 
afternoon before the sitting-room fire. Two 
weeks of seclusion in her own room made the 
change delightful. 

I think my concentration must have worked 
the wrong way,’’ she admitted to Sandy. Mrs. 
Hodges must be right about those things getting 
mixed, because my efforts seem only to have con¬ 
centrated the measles. She says she never knew 
anybody to have them harder. I only hope that 
it will be some time before I catch the mumps, 
and when I do, I can assure you that I shall not 
try to concentrate on that! If ever I have any 
children, I shall see that they all get through 
with such things before they are six years old. 


MIND CURE FOR MEASLES 349 

It is mortifying to come down with such a dis¬ 
gracefully childish disease at my age. But have 
you heard anything from the town meeting? ” 

Not yet. Elsie is going to telephone as soon 
as she knows. I wanted to attend for your sake, 
my dear, but everybody said I would be unwise 
and I am feeling so splendidly now that I should 
hate to pick up another germ.” 

You must acknowledge,” said Sally lan¬ 
guidly, that if I had to bring one home, it was 
good and kind of me to choose one to which you 
were immune.” 

It certainly was,” laughed Sandy, kissing 
her pale cheek. Here come Elsie and her fa¬ 
ther in person to tell us what the town did at the 
meeting.” 

Sally sat up to see the horse and sleigh turn 
into the yard, for though the snow was melting, 
progress on runners was still easier than on 
wheels. 

Sally, they gave it to us! ” Elsie cried as she 
rushed in. Fifty dollars to buy new books for 
the children, and without a single opposing vote! 
Can you believe it? ” 

Elsie danced excitedly about the room, shed¬ 
ding fur coat, gloves, overshoes, and hat in her 


350 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


progress. In the kitchen Mr. Luther could be 
heard stamping snow from his feet. 

Tell me all about it/’ Sally begged. Did 
your father make the motion? ” 

No, Daddy said he would if it were neces¬ 
sary but he very much wanted the proposal to 
come from somebody else. He thought it would 
be better. Of course they had to discuss the 
other articles on the warrant—the library ap¬ 
propriation came far down the list—and they 
wrangled forever about the amount that should 
be spent on the roads. They always spend an 
hour or more over that and sometimes they get 
mad and call each other names. That is inter¬ 
esting, but to-day it was merely tiresome. They 
disposed of the school appropriation without 
much fuss,—that and the roads always take the 
most time and make people the crossest. 

Finally, after it seemed to me that I should 
throw things if Henry Wilson said one single 
solitary word more about the need of economy, 
we got to the miscellaneous appropriations, about 
hay scales and brush fires, and the tree warden 
and the amount to be spent on Fourth of July, 
and at last we came to the library. 

Henry Fitch is moderator and he read the 


MIND CURE FOR MEASLES 351 


article: ^ To see whether the town will appropri¬ 
ate the sum of fifty dollars to purchase children’s 
books for the Still River Public Library.’ 

My heart was in my mouth,” said Elsie dra¬ 
matically, but the next second I felt it go into 
the heels of my boots, because who should get up 
at once but Mr. Beck, the man who made a fuss 
about his fine, and who had been talking half 
the afternoon about dragging the town into debt, 
and increasing the tax rate. I never knew be¬ 
fore that one’s heart could dart about in such 
a strange fashion. 

When I saw Mr. Beck rise, I thought it was 
all over with our chances. But he said that on 
the whole, he was inclined to favor that appro¬ 
priation, only, if it was granted, he wanted to 
know who was going to have the spending of the 
money. The moderator looked surprised and said 
he supposed it would be the selectmen since they 
had the oversight of the library, and then he 
looked at Mr. Moffatt. 

Up gets Joshua Moffatt and clears his throat 
and says that the selectmen were nominally in 
charge, but that he should recommend leaving 
the choice of the new books to the group of peo¬ 
ple who have been enough interested to get the 


352 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


libraiy open again. I wish you could have heard 
his speech, Sally; it would have warmed the 
cockles of your heart. He used incorrect 
grammar and I can never imitate his odd accent, 
but what he said was fine. He said there might 
be some people present who hadn^t heard about 
the opening of the library, and so he would tell 
them that a group of young people had cleaned 
the room and the books and were keeping the 
place open every Saturday afternoon and it 
wasn^t costing the town anything for upkeep be¬ 
yond a little fuel and the oil for a lamp. He 
told the number of days we were open and the 
number of books people had borrowed and about 
those we lent to the school and of how inter¬ 
ested the teachers and the children were. 

“ He said he hadn’t thought the town needed 
a library, but those figures—only he said ^ fig- 
gers ’—showed that folks would use it. He said 
he’d found one book that interested him a lot, 
and he thought ‘ mebbe ’ there were more, only 
he hadn’t had time to finish that one.” 

“ Did he mention its name? ” demanded the 
interested Sally. 

“ No,” Elsie replied. I hoped he would but 
he didn’t. Then he said that he, for one, thought 


MIND CURE FOR MEASLES 353 


tlie young people deserved encouragement, and 
that he was in favor of making the appropriation 
and letting ‘ them that done the work spend the 
money ^! I did memorize that to tell you. 

^AVhen Joshua sat down the meeting ap¬ 
plauded. I was so pleased, for hardly anything 
all the afternoon had roused any enthusiasm, so 
it showed that people liked the library. The 
moderator asked Mr. Beck if that answered his 
question, and Mr. Beck said it was satisfactory 
as far as it went, but he’d like the selectmen to 
look over the bills for the new books. 

Mr. Moffatt got up and said that the select¬ 
men always approved town bills and the town 
clerk handled the money. Then Mr. Farnum 
moved that the town appropriate fifty dollars 
for the use of the library in buying books for 
children. As many as five people seconded the 
motion. Then the moderator asked, ‘Are you 
ready for the question? ’ 

“ I suppose of course there was nothing more 
to say, but up got Mr. Ericsson and said that 
before the question was put he would like to 
speak, and he felt that he voiced the feeling of 
a good many parents in expressing his apprecia¬ 
tion at having the library open again. Person- 


354 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


ally, he was grateful to the young man who sug¬ 
gested the plan and to the young people who had 
carried it out. I was so happy, Sally! I did 
wish Sandy had been there because it was his 
plan and his idea, even though he hasn’t been 
able to do much himself.” 

Sally’s happy eyes filled at this tribute to her 
brother. That was nice of Mr. Ericsson,” she 
exclaimed. 

Wasn’t it? And the people clapped again. 
Then the moderator put the question and the 
money was voted without a single no. It was 
almost the only appropriation made without op¬ 
position or without some ill-natured discussion.” 

Mr. Luther had been giving Sandy his version 
of the meeting and the two came in as Elsie con¬ 
cluded her joyous story. 

All’s well that ends well,” he said. I was 
greatly pleased that it wasn’t necessary for me 
to say one word. It went just as I hoped it 
might, though I didn’t anticipate that the one 
to whom most credit was due would get it. So 
many unselfish plans go unrecognized by those 
who benefit from them. Hendrik Ericsson’s 
speech gratified me greatly, and I think the fu¬ 
ture of the Still River Library is assured.” 


CHAPTER XXIV 


ON THE EED TRAIL 

Sally first expedition into the outside world 
was on a still sunny noon when she and Sandy 
went down to the farm to see the sugaring-off in 
the big maple grove. 

Maple-sugar manufacture was new to Sally, 
though not to her brother. She was interested 
in every step of the process from the bringing 
in of the watery sap fresh from buckets hung on 
the trees, through its boiling down to sugar or 
to the waxy syrup which Thor ladled for them 
on pans filled with clean snow. Dagmar and 
Oscar were in the grove, Oscar his sturdy self 
again, Dagmar grown taller and still pale. Like 
Sally, her measles had been concentrated. 

Some of the sugar was being run into fasci¬ 
nating little scalloped cakes, and Sally thought 
of girl friends in the city who would like sugar 
straight from the spot where it was made. 

You can have what you want,’^ said Thor. 

355 


356 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Any amount, ten pounds if you say so. Just 
let me know so I can run enough, in these special 
moulds.” 

Sally wished to run her own cakes and was 
permitted to do so. Thor would have said noth¬ 
ing had she upset the whole big kettle, but Sally 
accomplished her desire with neatness and des¬ 
patch. Sandy was making a pencil sketch of the 
evaporator boiling over the fire in the open 
shanty. He had an article ready for the paper 
which lacked only an illustration. 

Before many weeks Aunt Euth can drive up,” 
said Sally happily as they walked home. I 
feel sure she will come because she was so trou¬ 
bled when we wrote of our misadventures. I’m 
glad she didn’t know till they were over, for it 
was no use worrying her. So I think we shall 
see her soon.” 

Don’t set your heart on seeing her immedi¬ 
ately. It will take days of sun and wind to dry 
these roads, even after they are free from snow.” 

‘^When Auntie does come, I have thought 
quite seriously of asking her to bring either 
Betty or Marion. There are times when I just 
long for one of them again.” 

Ask them by all means. I feel sorry about 


ON THE RED TRAIL 357 

your being away from your friends all this time. 
Ask Auntie to bring them both.’’ 

No, I have decided not to,” said Sally. “ Per¬ 
haps in smnmer I will ask them, but I am afraid 
that now they wouldn’t be really comfortable. 
Betty wouldn’t like the squirrels and she and I 
would have to sleep in that room, because Auntie 
must have mine. And Marion,—well, do you 
know, Sandy, while I love them both dearly, I 
don’t think either one would fit as Elsie does. 
I’ve had Elsie all winter and she is an all-the- 
year-round friend. In summer, when things are 
more comfortable, we will see.” 

Sandy agreed that postponement of the invi¬ 
tations might be desirable, but found himself 
wondering whether either girl would be as much 
to Sally in her present environment. He re¬ 
membered both as petted darlings of wealthy 
homes, but neither, in his opinion, fitted to hold 
a candle to his Sally. And in these months Sally 
had developed fast. Though lessons had been ir¬ 
regular, she had learned many not taught from 
books, and somewhere in those weeks,—Sally 
could have given him the exact date, the evening 
when she and Thor moved his bed in from the 
porch,—somewhere in those days, Sally had left 


358 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


irresponsible girlhood behind her. Her gay 
charm was as spontaneous as ever, but since that 
night the eyes with which she looked upon life 
were more thoughtful and womanly. 

With the melting snow came the mud and with 
the mud the robins. Making her bed one April 
morning, Sally was sure she heard a call and 
hurried to the window. Below on exposed 
patches of sodden grass three fat red-breasted 
birds were hopping about or sitting straight to 
survey the world with stretched necks and comic¬ 
ally erect heads. The trio evidently composed 
a flying squadron sent ahead to see how Robin 
Hollow had stood the winter, for while Sally 
watched, a flock of twenty or more suddenly took 
possession of the big maples. 

Sweet things! thought Sally with the pleas¬ 
ure known only to those who have spent a long 
winter in a cold country. The coming of the flrst 
robins is indeed a message direct from Spring. 

Later in the morning, Sandy brought another 
when he came in from an exploring expedition— 
a handful of arbutus, its waxy petals tinged with 
pink and its fragrance announcing its approach 
before Sandy had a chance to surprise his sister. 

There will be quantities more,” he told her. 


ON THE RED TRAIL 


359 


came on a bed stretching ever so far up 
the mountain. Before long, if this weather 
keeps on, we can get at Uncle Alexander’s trails. 
I want to mark them all again as well as look 
for his mines.” 

Sally was lovingly arranging the pink buds. 

We will send some arbutus to Auntie, and you 
might send a box to the reporters on the Star/^ 

Good idea,” said Sandy. They would like 
it first rate, and I still feel under everlasting 
obligations for the radio. It has made the winter 
here a very different thing, for me at least. You 
haven’t had so much fun out of it.” 

I have always been able to get out, except 
when I had the measles. I wish the trails would 
dry quickly because now you can explore with 
me.” 

The thing I am most thankful for is that I 
can lift and carry and not let you take the brunt 
any longer. It drove me nearly to drink to see 
you shoveling snow.” 

You may not believe it, Sandy, but I like 
to shovel snow.” 

Whenever there was any hard job to be done, 
you claimed to like it! Look me in the face, 
Sarah Allison, and tell me honest,—cross your 


360 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


heart,—if you would really be contented to go 
on living here at Robin Hollow for the rest of 
your life ? Think before you answer.’’ 

Sally looked at him with a smile, but her face 
became sober as she turned again to the flowers. 

Cross my heart, Alexander Allison, I don’t 
suppose I should be happy to stay here always, 
but this winter I have been perfectly contented 
because you were getting well. I suppose, if I 
were like Priscilla Clinton or Gertrude Howe, 
had always lived here and didn’t see anything 
else ahead of me, I shouldn’t like it.” 

Sally stopped to think. I suppose that is 
just the difference,” she went on. I know about 
the city shops and the theatres and the junior 
dances and summers at the beach. I have had 
them once and I shall have them again. And in 
another year I am going to college. So it doesn’t 
make me unhappy to live this way for a time. 
I should always like to be here in spring and 
summer and most of the fall, but I must admit 
that if I were going to live in Robin Hollow 
through another winter, I would like a furnace 
and a bath tub and electricity. But the only 
thing that worries me is because you are feeling 
so well and because Dr. Atkins says your lungs 


ON THE RED TRAIL 361 

are sound again, that you will go back to work 
again before September.’^ 

Sally, I promise you I will not. I’ve had a 
lesson I sha’n’t forget. No, I am pledged to 
stay here until the first of September, and you 
can depend on it. Before I go back I am going 
to chop down a tree and raise vegetables and 
pitch hay for Mr. Ericsson and tramp all over 
Uncle’s mountains. I don’t anticipate that we 
shall spend another winter here but we will hope 
for the summers. I think we may really look 
forward to that, when I realize that everything 
I have written since I came to Kobin Hollow has 
been accepted and paid for. While you were 
sick, Sally, I got out my novel. You know it 
was finished and copied just before the doctors 
put the kibosh on me. I swore to myself that 
I would not look at the manuscript for six 
months; not even think about it any more 
than I could help. Then, by the way it struck 
me, I would either burn it or send it to a pub¬ 
lisher.” 

Sandy, you didn’t burn it? ” cried Sally in 
dismay. Personally, she considered that story 
destined to eternal fame. 

It wasn’t so good as I hoped but neither was 


362 ROBIN HOLLOW 

it so bad as I feared. I took two days to consider 
the matter and decided to launch it.’^ 

Your very tallest ship, Alexander Allison! 
Oh, how I hope she may come safely home! ’’ 
Bon^t expect too much. She is just as likely 
to sink without leaving a trace. But the manu¬ 
script was mailed.’’ 

“ My blessing go with it! ” Sally threw a kiss 
into the air and then hugged him. Of course 
it will be accepted, Sandy; I haven’t one doubt 
about that.” 

I have a good many,” sighed Sandy. 

Close upon the robins came the bluebirds, fol¬ 
lowed by song-sparrows and bobolinks, and soon 
the procession arrived so rapidly that it was 
difficult to greet properly each newcomer. Long 
before the surrounding hills entirely ceased to 
look wintry, sheltered Robin Hollow became 
emerald with grass, jeweled with early flowers 
and musical with birds. 

In the long-neglected garden green shoots 
were popping up and Elsie and Thor were in 
demand to advise the amateur gardeners how to 
distinguish weeds from perennials. Sally came 
home one afternoon to find her brother working 
over Humping Henry, with tools and parts 


ON THE RED TRAIL 363 

strewed about, and he himself as smudged and 
black as any mechanic. 

I am overhauling the engine,’’ he explained 
in reply to her question. Thor pumped the 
tires for me and brought oil and grease. Look 
behind the house.” 

Have they ploughed the garden? ” Sally de¬ 
manded, running to see. I thought it would 
be bigger than that.” 

That is all we shall want to care for. It will 
raise more vegetables than we can eat.” 

It looks so very small,” commented Sally 
dubiously, “ and I want a part of it for flowers. 
Elsie says it is a good plan to plant annuals for 
cutting in the vegetable garden.” 

You may have all the space you want,” re¬ 
plied Sandy, searching for a wrench. Please 
hold this funnel steady while I pour in the fresh 
oil.” 

Sally did so. Elsie says Jack once took a 
tin from the cellar which he supposed contained 
oil and poured nearly a gallon of maple syrup 
into the big car, not Elsie’s roadster, but the 
other one. Mr. Luther was greatly disgusted 
with him.” 

I should have thought Jack would know the 


364 ROBIN HOLLOW 

difference when lie was pouring it in,” com¬ 
mented Sandy with a smile. 

I would have known by the smell. It made 
no end of trouble and the car had to go to the 
garage to have the engine thoroughly cleaned.’^ 

Jack must have been rather unpopular in 
the Luther family for a time. That^s enough. 
I expect to have Henry in shape to run you down 
to the village to-morrow.’’ 

Sally took another look at the garden patch 
where the upturned earth showed rich and 
brown. It looks very rough,” she remarked. 

It must be harrowed before we use it and 
then I shall work it over with a hoe. Decide 
where you want your flowers and I’ll get that 
part into shape first.” 

Elsie says it isn’t any use to plant seeds yet 
because we may have a frost even now. I mean 
to do most of the planting myself. Rikki-Tik, 
here is a lovely butterfly for you to chase.” 

Sally wandered off into what had been the old 
garden. Her brother had already pruned into 
shape currant, blackberry, and raspberry bushes. 
Daffodils were pushing up in the neglected bor¬ 
der, some already budded. To her joy, Sally dis¬ 
covered in the longer grass under an old apple- 


ON THE RED TRAIL 


365 


tree, other bulbous plants, probably jonquils. 
Uncle Alexander had evidently loved his garden. 

Before long the trails dried so that it was pos¬ 
sible to get into the woods and Sandy suggested 
that they make a beginning on marking the old 
blazes. Sally was delighted to go and arranged 
with Gertrude Howe to take her place at the 
library one Saturday. They started early in the 
morning, with lunches in little knapsacks which 
Sally had cut after Elsie’s pattern and sewed on 
Mrs. Luther’s machine. To-day, Sally had a 
small hatchet stuck into her belt and her brother 
carried a basket containing a can of red paint 
and a brush. 

The red trail was first to receive a spring 
cleaning, the only one over which Sandy had 
been, and what a different Sandy on this trip! 
Sally thought of the change as she watched his 
step, no longer slow and languid but as spring¬ 
ing and quick as her own. They stopped to 
brush off Uncle Alexander’s seat, but Sandy no 
longer needed to rest. 

Still, their progress was slow, for each blaze 
had to be retouched with paint, and in some 
places there was underbrush to be cleared from 
the path. Sally did her share of the hatching ” 


366 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


but Sandy could now wield a strong arm. They 
took turns with hatchet and brush. 

I always did like to daub paint, but I never 
expected to have a whole landscape on which to 
sling it,’’ said Sally contentedly as she placed a 
careful dab on a smooth rock. Don’t you adore 
these wee birch leaves? They are like fluttery 
green lace. Oh, what a pretty world it is! ” 

All about them insect and animal life was 
surging with the recurrent call of spring. 
Squirrels chittered and scolded from trees; bees, 
birds and butterflies flitted about and above 
them, and at a sudden turn they came full on a 
partridge with her flock of chickens. 

The hen flew off, trailing one wing and flutter¬ 
ing in agonized circles, trying to distract their 
attention from the chickens which at her first 
call had frozen into motionless balls hardly to 
be distinguished from the dead leaves. 

“ Here’s one! ” said Sally in a whisper. 
There’s another! Oh, the dear lambs! ” 

Sandy smiled to see his sister actually pick 
up three of the tiny partridges. Too small to be 
afraid, they liked the warmth of her hand and 
cuddled into the palm. “ Did you ever see any¬ 
thing so sweet? ” she exclaimed. 



They took turns with hatchet and brush.— P</(ye 
























ON THE RED TRAIL 367 

The mother bird, seeing that her efforts had 
not deceived the intruders, abandoned her tactics 
and came nearer with calls of fear. Immedi¬ 
ately a dozen other chickens materialized from 
their concealing background and scuttled to her. 

See their wee striped heads and tiny, tiny 
feet! And such bright eyes! There, go to your 
mother. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world and 
there’s no sense in her making such a fuss.” 

The rapidity and silence with which the par¬ 
tridge removed her family to a place of safety 
seemed almost incredible. To all appearances 
they simply vanished into earth or air. 

Marking the blazes took a long time, but 
before noon they came out at the heap of 
stones where, to all appearances, the red trail 
ended. 

^^We never brought Uncle Alexander’s ham¬ 
mer,” said Sally. 

That’s so. I intended to get it but forgot it 
when I went for the paint. This is the trail on 
which according to his note-book he found most 
of his garnets. But they aren’t lying around in 
plain sight; I am sure of that.” 

Sally glanced dubiously at the stones tossed 
in fantastic piles. She wore her knickers, and 


368 ROBIN HOLLOW 

looked, save for lier braided hair, like a slender 
boy. 

I wish I knew more about geology,’’ said her 
brother. According to the book, the common 
garnet is found usually in mica-schist and gneiss. 
I know mica-schist when I see it and I think I 
know gneiss, and nothing here looks like either.” 

Sally glanced across the opening to the woods 
beyond. Do you suppose by any chance the 
trail goes on farther? ” she asked. There are 
no blazes on any of these stones.” 

“ This is shale and slate that may have 
changed place during spring thaws. It would 
be worth while crossing over to see. You go to 
the right and I’ll strike to the left and we will 
look for blazed trees or a trail leading farther 
on.” 

Sally found no indication of a path into the 
woods, but part of her territory included a slope 
where the loose stones tumbled into a ravine. 
Though there was no trail and no blaze, some¬ 
thing in the general look.of the land made her 
feel that the ravine was worth examination. 
She called to her brother and sat down to await 
his arrival. 

When Sandy came, he agreed with her, but 


ON THE RED TRAIL 


369 


proposed lunclieoii and lialf an hoards rest before 
further investigation. They began to eat while 
sitting in the sun, but finished under the scanty 
shelter provided by a big birch, because each 
accused the other of a sunburned nose. 

My complexion doesn’t matter,” said Sandy, 
but I never did care for a red-nosed girl.” 
Sally put on the hat she had discarded. My 
only aim in life is to please you,” she remarked 
sweetly. I’ll leave you now for a nap while I 
go just over the edge of the ravine.” 

Sandy rolled over on his face in the warm sun 
and really went to sleep. After an interval he 
was aroused by the return of his sister, looking 
somewhat disheveled. In her hand she held a 
dull-colored stone from the surface of which pro¬ 
truded a cluster of dark brownish-red crystals. 

So it is down the slope! ” exclaimed Sandy. 

How did vou find it? ” 

€/ 

Fell into it,” said Sally calmly. She sat 
down, displaying a tear in one stocking and a 
long rent in her blouse, to say nothing of a 
scratched wrist. That is, I slipped and slid 
and uncovered this one specimen.” 

It is the common garnet, all right enough,” 
said Sandy, examining it. 


370 ROBIN HOLLOW 

‘Ht will take considerable bunting to find 
many/^ said Sally, fanning berself. ^‘Now I 
have found it, I don’t think it is especially 
pretty. You needn’t bother about having it set 
in platinum.” 

Thanks,” returned her brother. Tin might 
be more appropriate. I think I’ll take a look.” 

I guess I won’t go back. It is hard climb¬ 
ing. Take care not to fall.” 

Sandy spent nearly an hour exploring the 
sides of the ravine and found half a dozen speci¬ 
mens, all smaller than Sally’s and none of any 
especial beauty. 

We may as well take them home,” he said as 
he regained the top of the slope. I only wanted 
to find the place, and I doubt if even Uncle Alex¬ 
ander ever dug out any of real value. None of 
his garnets compare with the green crystals in 
the cloth bag. Instead of going back by the 
trail, let’s strike down through the woods.” 

Sally assented. The spring afternoon in it¬ 
self offered an invitation to explore. Half slip¬ 
ping, half sliding, they reached the bottom of the 
ravine and entered a solemn grove of beeches 
where the sunlight was subdued into a soft 
green glitter and the air was fragrant with the 


ON THE RED TRAIL 371 

high-set blossoms. Sally wanted a cluster and 
promptly climbed a tree. 

Did you ever see beech blossoms before?’’ 
she asked, dropping some at her brother’s feet. 

Never. I doubt if many city-dwellers have.” 

Oh, the country has its good points,” said 
Sally, descending again to earth, ^^but all the 
same, I am crazy to think that next Saturday I 
am going to a dance in Rutland. Of course 
Elsie asked her cousin to invite me, and I won’t 
know anybody, but all I want is to dance, and 
probably somebody will give me a turn. It is so 
long since I’ve been to a dance that I won’t know 
how to behave. It’s true that I’ve danced with 
Thor at Christmas and with Jack and Andrew, 
but this is to be a real party! Elsie is ex¬ 
cited, too, because she’s never been to many 
dances—she couldn’t, you know; she was ill so 
long.” 

Don’t you need a new dress? ” Sandy asked, 
entering into her mood. 

^^No,” Sally told him. “My pretty pink 
chiffon both Elsie and Mrs. Luther say is per¬ 
fectly in style. It only needs pressing and a few 
stitches, which Elsie’s angel mother took for me. 
She is as interested in my dress as in Elsie’s. I 


372 ROBIN HOLLOW 

am thankful that we can drive up and not go by 
train. You won^t mind my being gone till Mon¬ 
day? ” 

I shall probably droop and pine away. No, 
Rikki-Tik and I will try to get on without fight¬ 
ing, and survive your absence.’’ 

Below the beech grove the woods became 
denser and the walking harder but in the course 
of two hours they came out in a pasture. 

Why, we are above Ericssons’ farm,” ex¬ 
claimed Sally, looking about her. Did you 
know we should come down here? ” 

I thought it likely. Isn’t that Dagmar? ” 

Sally glanced in the direction indicated. In 
the old pasture grew scattered wild apple-trees, 
gnarled, stubby, with one exception, bearing 
worthless fruit. This was treasured by the chil¬ 
dren for its curious cathead apples, though they 
seldom cared to eat many. Under this tree stood 
a little figure in a blue dress. Sally called and 
Dagmar turned. 

Come! ” she cried. Sally, hurry! I can’t 
keep it much longer.” 

The child’s voice held a note of distress and 
the two quickened their pace. What can be the 
matter? ” Sandy exclaimed as another cry 


ON THE RED TRAIL 373 

reached them. What a curious motion in the 
grass! Let^s run.’^ 

Something is wrong I agreed Sally, keep¬ 
ing abreast of him. 

Well, what on earth! exclaimed Sandy as 
they reached the child. 

“ For goodness’ sake, Dagmar, why are you 
standing on that big snake? ” demanded Sally 
with a sudden recoil. 

To keep him till Oscar gets Thor with a gun,” 
explained Dagmar. Her face was red and dis¬ 
tressed and under her heavy shoes writhed a 
five-foot black snake. He was up the tree and 
there’s a bird’s nest. Oscar ran to get Thor and 
told me to keep the snake up the tree till Thor 
came to kill it. But it came down and the only 
way I could keep it was to stand on it and it 
wiggles awfully. Sally, I’m scared it will bite 
me if I step off.” 

You stay set one second longer,” said Sandy, 
producing his hatchet. In the promised instant, 
Dagmar was released from her vigil. 

My, he’s longer than lam!” she commented, 
looking at the remains of her prisoner. Oscar 
has been gone ’most an hour. I’m tired. I’m 
glad you and Sally came along.” 


374 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Oh, I could never have done that, Dagmar! 
Sally praised her. Stand on a wriggling snake I 
Never! Not Sarah Allison.” 

You wouldn’t want him to eat the little 
birds?” asked Dagmar with reproachful eyes. 
It was the only way to stop him.” 


CHAPTEK XXV. 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 

my opinion,” said Caleb Hopkins, “it 
would take three thousand dollars to put this 
place in good shape.” 

Mrs. Hopkins considered the remark in silence. 

It was the evening before Memorial Day and 

warm as summer. She and her husband had 

motored to Still Kiver the previous day, not, 

however, without warning. Sally received ample 

notice to set her house in order, to engage Mrs. 

Hodges^ daily services over the week-end, to make 

the shed chamber really attractive with a careful 

selection of furniture from the storeroom, even 

including another bed. Sally had discovered its 

mattress under the eaves, and Mrs. Hodges, de- 
\ 

ducing from the mattress the existence of a 

frame, had run it to earth in the barn loft. 

It was true that the squirrels still frolicked 

at dawn, but Aunt Ruth had undertaken so to 

manage the squirrels that Uncle Caleb should 

receive no annoyance. This seemed a large order 

375 


376 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


to Sally, who saw no way of keeping them out 
of the room nor off the beds, but she inferred 
that Aunt Kuth^s preventive treatment would 
perhaps be applied to her husband, not to the 
frisky little invaders. 

I presume it might cost that amount,” Mrs. 
Hopkins finally assented. “ I suppose you refer 
to the real essentials such as plumbing and light¬ 
ing and putting in a heating plant. I doubt if 
the children would wish to have it completely 
like a city house.” 

Probably not, though if it were mine, I 
should tear down these rambling outbuildings. 
No, I referred to what is absolutely needed for 
comfort. For my part, I can’t see how they ever 
kept warm during a winter as severe as this 
one just past.” 

They not only did, but Sandy has entirely 
recovered his health and Sally is none the worse 
for the experience. Darling Sally! she has grown 
so sweet and womanly and she always was such 
a dear little girl.” 

^^I’ve nothing to say against Sally,” agreed 
her husband. I always thought her brother 
spoiled her, but she’s smart, though I really 
didn’t think she had the spunk to face what 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 377 

^he must have been up against on this propo¬ 
sition.’’ 

With Sally it was a plain question of love 
and that carried her through. She told me the 
only time her courage failed was when Sandy had 
his set-back. And then the poor child did not 
even write until it was all over, because she 
knew it would only worry me.” 

Sandy has improved, too,” observed Mr. Hop¬ 
kins after a pause. He isn’t so up and coming 
as he used to be. I can talk with him now with¬ 
out having my dander rise. I suppose he is 
growing older.” 

He told me,” said his wife, after another 
silence to enjoy the sun drawing near the distant 
hills, ^Hhat he earned enough with writing to 
pay the winter’s expenses. He has not drawn 
on his savings except for the doctors’ bills.” 

I meant that check I sent him at Christmas 
to settle those,” growled Mr. Hopkins. 

He didn’t need it; he was doing so well with 
his literary work. He put it by for Sally’s future 
expenses at college.” 

Stuff and nonsense! I mean to send Sally 
through college. I intend to pay those bills.” 

Caleb,” interposed his wife, I don’t believe 


378 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


you ever really took it in when I told you that 
Sandy has never touched a cent of the little 
money his mother left. He has supported him¬ 
self and Sally. Every particle of that principal 
is available for Sally’s education.” 

Let him take it to fix up Eobin Hollow,” 
growled Mr. Hopkins. ^^He won’t need it for 
Sally.” 

He won’t use it for that.” 

^^Let him leave it then. It will produce a 
little income for Sally each year. When Sally 
was first with us after her mother died, I set aside 
five thousand dollars in Liberty bonds, for her 
education. It’s there for that purpose and I 
shall never use it for any other.” 

I suspected you did that, Caleb. I thought 
it so good of you but I don’t know whether you 
can get Sandy to accept it. He is something 
like Alexander where money is concerned.” 

The more’s the pity,” came the grunt. For 
a really clever fellow, Alexander could be a good 
deal of an ass. It’s only of late years that I’ve 
come to wonder whether there wasn’t more in 
his taking to the country than I understood at 
the time.” 

^^Just what do you mean by that, Caleb?” 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 379 

asked kis wife^s gentle voice, but with, a certain 
remote intonation. 

Whether he didn’t know what he was doing 
rather better than the rest of us. When you 
come right down to it, there’s only about so much 
that anybody needs in this world. There’s a 
point at which money ceases to give satisfaction. 
Alexander knew the point. I didn’t. That’s 
what I mean.” 

Mrs. Hopkins sighed but remained silent. 

I am sorry Sandy is so like Alexander in 
some ways,” her husband presently continued. 

Not having any children of our own, I’d like 
to do something for these two, but at every turn 
I come sharp against Sandy’s confounded inde¬ 
pendence. When I sent that check at Christmas, 
I expected to see it come back. I was really sur¬ 
prised that it didn’t, and now you tell me that 
he put it aside for Sally.” 

Caleb,” said Mrs. Hopkins with an under¬ 
current of tender amusement in her voice, if I 
didn’t know you as well as I do, I should not 
understand that deep in the bottom of your 
heart, you are fond and proud of Sandy Allison.” 

Mr. Hopkins actually smiled. You are the 
only person who suspects that. Sandy certainly 


380 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


doesn’t. But what I was getting at is this. That 
suni is set aside for Sally. Now that I have seen 
this place I think Sandy is right in holding on 
to it. It’s odd that I never came when Alex¬ 
ander was alive, but I didn’t, and of course when 
he died, you and I were both down with the flu 
and neither of us could even attend the funeral. 
But the place is valuable because of the location 
and the view, though the house badly needs put¬ 
ting into shape. I’d like to do it for them.” 

You can’t get Sandy to accept that favor 
just yet, but be patient. I think the time is 
coming when he will feel less sensitive. Sandy 
is going to make a name as a writer; in fact he 
is arriving fast. When that hour comes you will 
find him much more ready to let you do things 
for him.” 

It’s true that he may feel sensitive about 
accepting favors just because he flatly turned 
down every business proposition I ever made 
him. And I donH believe in helping a boy 
too much. It’s far better for him to make his 
own way in the world. I do respect the young 
fellow for wanting to stand on his own feet but 
there’s no need of his standing so hard he tips 
over backward. So you think he won’t let me 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 381 

put a little spare casli into fixing up Kobin Hol¬ 
low? 

Not at present. The cottage is comfortable 
enough for summer and they are not likely to 
spend another winter here. Let things alone for 
the time.’’ 

What will become of Sally when Sandy mar¬ 
ries ? He probably will, now his lungs are sound 
again.” 

“ Sandy will never take that step without 
maldng loving provision for Sally’s happiness. 
And Sally herself will doubtless marry young.” 

I hope she waits till she is twenty-five. No 
woman under that age knows her own mind.” 

“ I was twenty when I married you, Caleb,” 
said Mrs. Hopkins in a detached manner. 

You were an exception. But there is one 
thing I am going to do,” grumbled Mr. Hopkins, 
and that is to find and plug the holes under the 
eaves where those pesky squirrels get in. One 
sat on my pillow this morning and made faces. 
When I shooed him away he ran up the bed-post 
and swore at me. Sandy can’t object to my re¬ 
pairing Robin Hollow to the extent of nailing up 
a hole or two. Here is Sally back with her 


cream. 


382 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Sandy has gone to the village for the mail/’ 
said Sally, dropping on the step beside her aunt. 

He will be here in a few minutes. Isn’t it hot 
for the time of year? Do you get any breeze 
down there, Uncle Caleb? ” 

Not so I notice it. How is your library get¬ 
ting on? ” 

Oh, finely! We have forty-nine families tak¬ 
ing books now. But I can tell you that Elsie 
and I had a scare last week. 

We were alone in the place, mending books, 
when Elsie smelled smoke. I didn’t smell it so 
I said just for fun: ^ If the building is on fire, 
we’ll walk out and let it burn and then they’ll 
have to build a new one with a proper room for 
a library.’ 

I had hardly spoken when I looked through 
the open door into the town hall. You have never 
been in it, Uncle Caleb, but it has four wooden 
pillars supporting a balcony. They are rounded 
columns fitted into square wooden bases. Well, 
from the top of one of the bases, about a yard 
from the fioor, were curling lazy blue wreaths of 
smoke. 

^^We just stared. That smoke spouting part 
way up the column seemed impossible somehow, 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 


383 


like something that couldn’t he. It was unreal, 
like a scene in an opera. We stared only a sec¬ 
ond and then we made a dash for the cellar 
because we thought the fire must be in the base¬ 
ment. The place was full of smoke but we could 
see nothing burning. Elsie opened the outer 
cellar door and it was just as though she pressed 
a button; the whole corner of the cellar burst 
into flame! ” 

Why, my dear 1 ” said Aunt Ruth protest- 
ingly. 

^‘We didn’t stay. Elsie flew up-stairs. I 
don’t consider myself slow but when I reached 
the top she was half-way across the green, yelling 
for Joshua Moffatt. I saw a man working in a 
potato field somewhat nearer so I ran for him. 
In no time we collected six men and they put out 
the fire. It was in a heap of rubbish and prob¬ 
ably started from some old paint rags. The 
library was fearfully smoky for an hour or so but 
even Joshua saw the need of our having the 
windows open. It was a great score for us, be¬ 
cause if it hadn’t been a library afternoon the 
fire would probably have got such headway be¬ 
fore anybody discovered it that the town hall 
would have burned. Oh, the Still River Public 


384 ROBIN HOLLOW 

Library is quite well spoken of, thank you, Uncle 
Caleb.’’ 

You did a good job when you opened it,” said 
her uncle unexpectedly. 

‘‘ It was entirely Sandy’s idea. He thought of 
it and persuaded the selectmen. We only did 
the part he couldn’t manage.” 

Mr. Hopkins emitted a non-committal grunt. 

Sally,” said Aunt Euth, you wrote me 
about finding the crystals in the old desk and 
that you and Sandy found some garnets on the 
red trail. Have you looked on the other paths ? ” 

Several times. Auntie. We have had picnics 
and blazed each trail with its proper paint. That 
part is done for all four. But we found only one 
rather poor green tourmaline and three pink 
ones, not very good specimens, and no topazes 
at all. Sandy thinks we may never find any of 
those because there were only four in Uncle’s 
desk, which shows that they are not lying around 
loose. Perhaps he found them only in one place. 
Nothing we picked up was so good as his speci¬ 
mens.” 

‘Wery probably those in his desk represent 
the cream of many trips,” observed her uncle. 

^^We think so,” Sally agreed, ‘^because when 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 


385 


Sandy was putting the garden in shape, he came 
upon a heap of discarded stones. Some were the 
matrix from which Uncle Alexander dug out the 
crystals, but there were enough poor and broken 
specimens to show that he kept only the most 
perfect. We are waiting now for a time when 
Thor can go with us. It is hard for him to get 
away, for a farm is a very busy place in spring.’^ 

I think Kobin Hollow is, also,’’ said Mrs. 
Hopkins smiling. 

Sandv and I do find considerable to do. The 
garden takes a great deal of time and of course 
I have my housekeeping and my lessons. I won¬ 
der the kitchen plaster hasn’t fallen in a faint 
when it saw the terrible crimes I committed upon 
the most inoffensive and harmless kinds of food. 
I trimmed the lamp-wicks and then used the 
same scissors in preparing grapefruit. I mistook 
tapioca for barley and put it into broth. It 
looked weird and Sandy said patiently that he 
didn’t think Mother ever served frogs’ eggs in 
soup. But thanks to advice from Mrs. Luther 
and constant boosts from Mrs. Hodges, I weath¬ 
ered the worst, but I can assure you that at times 
my thoughts were too hot to handle. 

But, Auntie, did you know that neither 


386 


ROBIN HOLLOW 


Marion nor Betty are going to college after all? 
I am disappointed because Betty and I always 
planned to room together. But she says her 
mother wants her to come out next winter and 
so she is going to give up Wellesley.’^ 

I am sorry to hear that/’ said Aunt Kuth. 

I think Mrs. Babcock and Betty are both mis¬ 
taken.” 

There is one thing to cheer me,” Sally went 
on brightly. The Luthers have always thought 
Elsie would never be strong enough to stand col¬ 
lege life, but she is so very well now that they 
are considering it. Elsie herself is crazy to go, 
and if they decide to let her try it, I shall have 
her instead of Betty.” 

That is good news, Sally dear,” said her aunt 
cordially. Elsie is a sweet girl and I like her 
more everv time I see her.” 

^^We have had a beautiful time together all 
winter. We sort of fit into each other. But 
Elsie has gone one step farther. She is so in¬ 
terested in this library that she wants, when she 
is through college, to go to a library school and 
learn to be a professional librarian.” 

And does that mean that Sally joins her? ” 
^^Well, I’m not quite sure. I like being part 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 


387 


of this one, but I enjoy people so much that if 
I were in a library, I would want to work with 
them as well as with books. I haven^t decided 
but I shall have to think seriously, because 
Sandy says I must fit myself to earn my own 
living if it is ever necessary. He says it is im¬ 
portant for every woman to know how, no mat¬ 
ter how improbable it seems that she will ever 
have to do it. Why, don’t you think so. Uncle 
Caleb? ” 

I suppose the theory is right enough,” as¬ 
sented her uncle ungraciously, but I don’t 
think you need worry about it.” 

“ Sandy says he expects to be able to take care 
of me but he wants me to know how.” 

It’s just as well,” agreed her uncle, but he 
looked unhappy and Mrs. Hopkins hastened to 
change the subject. 

You will come to the beach for part of the 
summer, won’t you, Sally? You have been with 
us now for five years,—no, six, isn’t it? ” 

Auntie, I don’t believe I can come until 
September. You see Sandy is going to stay here 
through August so as to run no possible risk in 
going back to work too soon. I don’t feel as 
though I wanted to leave him nor Robin Hollow 


388 ROBIN HOLLOW 

either/’ she ended honestly. Every day it 
grows more lovely.” 

Sandy hasn’t any idea of staying here 
another winter, has he? ” inquired Mr. Hop¬ 
kins. 

Not if he can help it,” laughed Sally with a 
shudder. If we had known the day we came 
just how cold it was going to be the next Febru¬ 
ary,—^well—perhaps we might not have tried it. 
But, as Sandy says, we had to get through only 
one day at a time. What I most hope is that we 
can come other summers.” 

Can Sandy keep his job on the paper and be 
off three months each year? ” 

Probably not. Uncle Caleb. They are hold¬ 
ing it for him this time because he was so ill. 
He feels under obligations to go back, but he 
has done a lot of writing these past months and 
everything has been accepted. All the things he 
sends out he calls his boats. Some are slender 
little canoes, and some are catboats and some 
are yachts and there has been one three-masted 
schooner! The checks he gets for them are the 
cargoes they bring back. The biggest one of all, 
and she is a full-rigged ship, is now at sea, and 
if she has a profitable voyage, Sandy thinks the 


SAIL IN SIGHT! 


389 


way will be clear for bim to depend entirely on 
his writing and give up journalism.” 

That means that he would make long sum¬ 
mers at Eobin Hollow and come to the city only 
for the winter's work? ” asked Mrs. Hopkins. 

Sally assented. It is more than six w^eeks 
since that ship w^as launched, so we are hoping 
for news with every mail.” 

Being on the ^tar must give him some pull 
with the publishers,” observed Uncle Caleb. 

Perhaps,” Sally admitted doubtfully, but 
Sandy wants his W'ork to stand or fall by itself. 
Whenever he sends a manuscript to a new place, 
he gives only his name and address.” 

Still, if the publishers keep up with current 
literature, they must see the name of Alexander 
Allison,” commented Mrs. Hopkins. 

Sandy says that is legitimate publicity and 
advertising. He has very pronounced ideas 
about business ethics, Auntie.” 

He has indeed! ” said Uncle Caleb gruffly. 

Some of them are right and some of them are 
far-fetched.” 

There is Humping Henry,” announced Sally. 

Sandy always toots at the turn. Mrs. Hodges 
will hear and put supper on the table. I hope 


390 ROBIN HOLLOW 

she has taken the wish-bones out of the sardines 
before she grilled theni/^ 

The little Ford made quick work of the scant 
quarter-mile of lane. Almost before Sally 
finished speaking, Sandy drove in. 

Mrs. Hopldns looked at him affectionately, re¬ 
joicing to see him alert and vivacious again; her 
husband gazed with reluctant approval at a 
young fellow who had obstinately chosen his own 
path and compelled respect by success, but 
Sally’s loving eyes saw more. He looked smiling 
and excited and the glance he gave her held a 
covert meaning. 

Any mail?” she asked and springing to her 
feet, ran to the car. 

Has the letter come? ” she asked eagerly as 
her brother drew from his pocket an envelope 
with the imprint of a well-known publishing 
house. Sandy, do you really mean it? Is the 
tallest ship coming home? ” 

Her sails are shining in the distance,” an¬ 
swered Alexander. 


FOUR GORDONS 

By EDNA A. BROWN 

lUiistrated Large 12mo Decorated Cover 

OUISE and her three brothers are the ** Four 
Gordons,” and the story relates their ex* 
periences at home and school during the absence 
cf their parents for a winter in Italy. There 
is plen?;]^ of fun and frolic, with skating, coast¬ 
ing, dancing, and a jolly Christmas visit. The 
conversation is bright and natural, the book 
presents no improbable situations, its atmos¬ 
phere is one oir refinement, and it has the merit 
of depicting simple and wholesome comradeship 
between boys and girls. 

** The story and its telling are worthy of Miss Al- 
cott. Young folks of both sexes will enioy it.”— 

AT. r. Sun. 

It is a hearty, wholesome story of youthful life 
in which the morals are never explained bin simply 
illustrated by logical results .”—Christian Register, 

UNCLE DAVID’S BOYS 

By EDNA A. BROWN 

Illustrated by John Qoss l2ino Cloth 




T his tells how some young people whom cir¬ 
cumstances brought together in a ’ittle moun¬ 
tain village spent a summer vacation, full of good 
times, but with some unexpected and rather mys¬ 
terious occurrences. In the end, more than one 
head was required to find out exactly what was 
going on. The story is a wholesome one with a' 
pleasant, well-bred atmosphere, and though it 
holds the interest, it never approaches the sensa¬ 
tional nor passes the bounds of the probable. 

“A story which will hold the attention of youthful 
readers trom cover to cover and prove not without its 
interest for older readers ,”—Evening Wisconsin. 

“For those young people who like a lively story 
with some unmistakably old fashioned characteristics, 

* Uncle David’s Boys,’ will have a strong appeal.”-^ 
Churchn^an, 


m /0 by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of 
prlcu by the publishers 

iOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON 








































BOOKS BY EDNA A. BROWN 

Illustrated by John Goss 12mo Cloth 

WHEN MAX CAME ~ 

T his is the story of Max, who did not wish to visit his New 
England cousins, and of Hope, who did not wish him to 
come,' and who was certain that she could never like a boy 
who had been brought up in Europe. The tale also introduces 
us to other attractive people, both young and grown up, and 
to a strange old hermit. The wooded hills of Maine form the 
background for a summer in which many things happened, 
both pleasant and unpleasant, after Max came. 

“ Decidedly a young people’s book of the better class, being bright, interesting, 
not a whit priggish or preachy, pointing no morals, thoroughly wholesome in tone 
and capitally \vT\tX&n”—Evening- Wisconsin. 



ARNOLD’S LITTLE BROTHER 

N ot the conventional athletic tale, 
but a lively narrative introducing us 
to small boys in the Lower school, to big 
ones in the Upper school, and to masters 
who are human beings, genuinely in¬ 
terested in the younger people under 
their charge. Opinions may differ as to 
whether Paul or Archer is the hero, but 
as soon as Archer enters the story, the 
^Mifference” begins. 


ARCHER AND THE “PROPHET” 

A rcher has already appeared, at a much younger age, as 
^‘Arnold’s Little Brother,” and is now a senior at the same 
school, St. Stephen’s. Like the author’s previous book, it is very 
different from the usual school story, and therein lies its great, 
strength. The ^‘Prophet” is a nickname given to an outside 
boy whom good-hearted Archer befriends, and around whom 
some of the strongest scenes in the story revolve. 

“The writing of the story is above the average for “juveniles,” every character 
drawing is convincing, and the episodes ring true .”—Chicago journal. 


For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt 
of price by the publishers 

Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. Boston 
































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